Surrey tops UK hydrogen bus league
Surrey County Council has invested over £16m in 34 zero emission hydrogen buses to ensure the county’s bus service is cleaner and greener.
Over the last few months, 11 double decker buses have gone into service to join the 23 single decker hydrogen buses which have been serving Surrey residents since autumn last year.
The buses were built in the UK by Wrightbus and are run by bus operator Metrobus, which now has a total of 54 hydrogen buses making it the largest zero emission hydrogen bus fleet in the UK.
The single deck buses can operate for 600 miles before they need refuelling. Refuelling takes less than 10 minutes and they do not need to be refuelled or recharged throughout the day, offering more time on Surrey’s roads serving passengers.
The hydrogen buses are operating in the following areas:
Single deckers:
Fastway route 100: Redhill – East Surrey Hospital – Salfords – Horley – Gatwick Airport – Crawley
Routes 430 & 435: Merstham – Redhill – East Surrey Hospital – Woodhatch – Reigate
Double deckers:
Routes 420, 460 & 480: Epsom – Preston – Tadworth – Banstead – Sutton – Lower Kingswood – Reigate – Redhill – East Surrey Hospital – Salfords – Horley A23 – Gatwick Airport – Crawley.
Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “I am delighted that all 34 of our new hydrogen buses are now serving on Surrey’s roads. It is great to be partnered with likeminded Metrobus who are also committed to providing sustainable travel options.
“I couldn’t be prouder that over half of the buses we have significantly invested in, make up the largest hydrogen bus fleet in the UK and the benefits this will bring for our residents.
“Our continuous investment in our bus network has contributed to almost 27 million bus passenger journeys made in Surrey last year. And over 14,500 residents aged 20 and under are benefitting from the Surrey LINK card which offers discounted bus travel around the county.”
Ed Wills, Managing Director, Metrobus, said: “We are delighted to be rolling out an additional 34 new British-built hydrogen buses on to Surrey’s streets, adding to the 20 already in operation, making it the largest hydrogen bus fleet in the UK. These buses are an excellent example of what can be achieved through partnership working. Together, we put sustainability and the transport needs of local people first.”
The single deck buses use the latest generation of Ballard fuel cell which uses an average 6.2kg of hydrogen per 100km. CO2 savings – hydrogen buses are zero emissions at the tail pipe and use green hydrogen.
