Zero emissions bus manufacturer Wrightbus has revealed the latest version of its hydrogen double deck bus, as part of its commitment to zero emission public transport.
The upgraded Streetdeck Hydroliner Gen 2.0 will be built in the Ballymena factory. The new vehicle is more fuel efficient, has a greater range, costs less, and can carry more passengers than its predecessor, which was the world’s first hydrogen double deck bus when it launched in 2020. The upgraded model is also easier to maintain and service.
Part-funded by the UK government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) UK, the four-year project has seen engineering experts from Wrightbus completely redesign the vehicle from the ground up. A consortium of partners including Grayson Thermal Systems, Queen’s University Belfast, HYGEN, and Translink banded together with the aim of strengthening UK based manufacturing capabilities to produce this zero emission technology at scale.
Using the latest hydrogen powertrain technology, the new bus can be refuelled in eight minutes and has a range of over 300 miles, a like-for-like replacement to diesel. Featuring a new fuel-cell from Ballard, alongside a highly-efficient electric traction system, the Hydroliner also has enhanced accessibility and safety features, including a redesigned front end to protect vulnerable road users.
It was unveiled at the Wrightbus factory on 20 February 2025. The firm also expects to create up to 1000 jobs in the supply chain, thanks to an increase in production at its Ballymena headquarters, as well as to grow its own workforce to 2500.
Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Wrightbus, said: “We are delighted to unveil our next-generation hydrogen bus, which really showcases the breadth of knowledge we have here in Northern Ireland at Wrightbus, and in our UK supply-chain partners. Our development team have ensured this bus is more efficient, travels further, costs less, and is easier to service and maintain. We are grateful to the APC UK and the Department for Business and Trade for their assistance with funding half of this project. Alongside our EV bus, 95% of all buses produced by Wrightbus at our Ballymena factory are now zero emissions – a marked changed on 2019, when 95% of all orders were for diesels.”
Philippa Oldham, Stakeholder Engagement Director at APC UK, continued: “This fuel-cell powered bus illustrates the opportunity to commercialise this technology. Buses are an integral part of the public transport network, with over 30 000 diesel buses operating across the UK and Ireland. Buses around the globe have to operate within a variety of constraints, whether it be related to topography or loading demands. This means that there needs to be a variety of options for this sector and the success from this project shows that hydrogen fuel-cell technology is a potential solution.”