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Friday Fallback Spotlight: Optare and Arcola Energy Announce Launch of Metrodecker H2: New Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus for the UK

By October 30, 2020 4   min read  (689 words)

October 30, 2020 |

Optare Metrodecker Blue AH edit 2

Our Friday Fallback story comes from Arcola Energy Ltd and Optare Group Ltd as they announced the launch of a hydrogen fuel cell double-deck bus product for the UK and international markets.

With both bus and power systems built in the UK, the team believes the new bus will make an important contribution to city air quality and a low carbon economic recovery.

Hydrogen fuel cell buses offer a zero-emission “drop-in” replacement for diesel buses. They are especially suited to busy, long-distance, high-capacity routes and complement the use of battery-electric buses on shorter routes.

The Metrodecker H2 hydrogen bus product is built on the proven Optare Metrodecker EV platform. It incorporates a hydrogen fuel cell powerpack developed by Arcola Energy as a direct replacement for the battery powerpack in the Metrodecker EV. It can carry more than 90 passengers with a range of between 200 and 250 miles depending on specification and route.

The Metrodecker H2 complements Optare’s existing range of low and zero-emission buses. Optare sees a significant export market for fuel cell buses to regions with high ambient temperatures, requiring high air-conditioning power.

The hydrogen fuel cell powertrain in the Metrodecker H2 is part of a family of products developed by Arcola Energy over the past ten years for a wide range of uses including lightweight cars, trucks, off-highway vehicles, buses, and trains.

Base vehicles for the Metrodecker H2 will be serially produced at Optare’s factory in Sherburn-in-Elmet, near Leeds, on the existing production lines for the Metrodecker EV. Hydrogen and fuel cell systems will be built by Arcola Energy at their existing Liverpool manufacturing facility, with plans well advanced for a second facility at the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc in Dundee.

Dr. Ben Todd, CEO of Arcola Energy said:

“Our partnership with Optare is an important step forward, not just for Arcola Energy, but for hydrogen fuel cell vehicle deployment in the UK. The innovative structural design of Optare buses makes them ideally suited to housing zero-emission powertrains; and most importantly, to producing buses that we believe will be the safest, most efficient, and easiest to maintain in their class“.

Graham Belgum, CEO of Optare Group Ltd commented:

We are delighted to be working in partnership with Arcola on this project.  We believe fuel cell technology has the potential to complement Optare’s award-winning battery electric vehicle range.  We look forward to working closely with Arcola to increase our understanding of the technology and its performance in service.  We can see applications for fuel cells on inter-urban routes in temperate climates and in high ambient environments where air conditioning is essential and the energy consumption is high”.

Arcola Energy – https://www.arcolaenergy.com/

Arcola Energy is a systems engineering company and Tier 1 supplier specialising in zero-emission technologies for heavy-duty vehicles. Our headquarters and engineering centre is in London, with manufacturing in our Liverpool manufacturing facility.

The company was founded to address the “deployment gap” between ever-evolving clean energy technologies and end-user needs. We work with vehicle manufacturers to help them with the transition to zero emissions, and with end-users to enable deployment of vehicles and their support in operation.

Our role as a Tier 1 integrator and knowledge of the technologies and requirements mean we are uniquely positioned to enable the transition to zero-emissions and facilitate the route to market for UK suppliers of technology components.

Arcola Energy is privately owned, and offers a truly independent view of the industry. Our independence also allows us to focus on what we believe in – products that make a positive contribution to society, delivered with total commitment to quality, safety and compliance.

Optare – http://www.optare.com/

Optare is a leading British manufacturer of urban buses with a modern assembly facility in Sherburn-in-Elmet, near Leeds, Yorkshire, employing around 400 people. Its award-winning range of buses features an integral design and efficient diesel engines, plus an industry-leading choice of electric units utilising the latest low carbon technology.

The Optare group PLC is part of Ashok Leyland, one of the top 3 global bus producers, and part of the Hinduja Group.

Read the most up to date Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Industry news at FuelCellsWorks

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