March saw the launch of a new European fuel cell bus demonstration project, High VLO-City in San Remo in Italy. Fifteen fuel cell hybride buses of Belgian bus manufacturer Van Hool will be put in daily services this year in Liguria, Flanders and Scotland. Hydrogen supply in two locations will be sourced as a waste product from local chemical industries providing a relatively cheap source of hydrogen. In Liguria hydrogen production will be linked to solar energy. Fuel cell hybride bus demonstration projects are rapidly becoming one of the major vehicles demonstration activities co-funded by the EU Fuel Cell Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU). A coalition of the major bus manufactures in Europe are currently involved in the FCH JU bus study coordinated by McKinsey to identify the market potential of different powertrains. Hamburg recently successfully completed the testing of of the last generation Evobus fuel cell hybride buses. The prominent role of European bus manufacturers in fuel cell bus development inspired the EHA to co-organize a session at the next World Hydrogen Energy Conference in Toronto on June 3-6 2012 on business opportunities in emerging economies, featuring representatives of bus interests in Brazil, India and South Africa. The upcoming (last) FP 7 Call for proposals that is scheduled for this summer will include a topic to develop and implement the take-up of innovative and green urban transport solutions which are adapted to the specific framework conditions of cities across the world, which could be a vehicle to force closer collaborations in potential markets.
The role of European SME’s in these developments have been impressive, as also this year will be demonstrated at the Hanover Fair’s 18th H2 and FC Group Exhibit form April 23 -26, 2012 where the theme is SME’s “greentelligence”. Join us in the EHA stand in Hall 27 B66. Happy Easter!