Crawley’s Bramble Energy enters next phase of hydrogen bus project
Crawley cleantech firm Bramble Energy has marked a ‘significant milestone’ in its Hydrogen Electric Integrated Drivetrain Initiative (HEIDI) project.
For the past year, the team has worked alongside Equipmake, Aeristech, and the University of Bath to develop a first-of-its-kind hydrogen-powered double-decker bus, with Bramble Energy supplying its printed circuit board fuel cell (PCBFC) technology.
The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) has put £12.7 million towards the project, which is expected to save almost 6 million tonnes in CO2 emissions.
By this point, concept designs have been finalised, and simulations suggest the hydrogen bus will offer a range of up to 280 miles – greater than the typical daily distance of London buses, and with refuelling times similar to diesel or petrol alternatives.
Bramble Energy and its partners are now ready to move into the next phase of HEIDI, which will involve manufacturing key components – including the fuel cell stack, fuel cell system, and hydrogen storage.
Dr. Vidal Bharath, CCO at Bramble Energy, said: “This new milestone for HEIDI brings us one step closer to revolutionising public transport with our innovative PCBFC technology, providing a viable path to net zero emissions for commercial vehicles.
“The ability to maintain passenger capacity whilst achieving significant range and rapid refuelling times showcases the practicality and scalability of our solution.
“By integrating our fuel cell stacks into the hydrogen double-decker bus, we are not only advancing sustainable transport but also supporting nearly 500 jobs and aiming to prevent nearly 6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions over the next decade.
“Together with our partners, we’re committed to delivering a sustainable, cost effective and zero emission future – one that will benefit both the transport sector and its customers.”
