Hydrogen-powered buses are carrying passengers on the streets of the West Midlands for the first time.
From December 2021, Birmingham City Council’s 20 zero-emission double-deckers started to roll out in service on a National Express West Midlands route. Outside London, these are the only hydrogen buses operating in England.
Councillor Waseem Zaffar, Birmingham City Council’s cabinet member for transport and environment, said: “Birmingham City Council’s zero-emission green-hydrogen bus fleet provides an innovative solution for cities that want to decarbonise public transport.
“They should immediately improve air quality and help us work towards Birmingham’s target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
“Birmingham residents may feel assured that their city is playing a leading role in actioning policies and informing debate about zero-emission public transport at local and national level.”
The new buses have been purchased as part of the council’s Clean Air Hydrogen Bus Pilot. With the zero-emission fleet unveiled last summer.
Managing director of National Express West Midlands, David Bradford, said: “The West Midlands already has the cheapest bus fares in England and now we are running the very greenest buses, emitting just water droplets from the exhaust pipe.
“It’s a great deal for our customers – just by getting the bus, they’re saving money and saving the planet.
“These state-of-the-art buses are a sign of our commitment to sustainability. National Express bought our last diesel bus in 2019, and our goal is that the whole fleet will be zero-emission by 2030.
“So we’re working with Transport for West Midlands to get hundreds more electric and hydrogen buses on routes across Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country.”
