Jan Van Hool, CTO at Van Hool, hands over the keys of the first of 40 fuel cell bus to Jens Konrad, Specialist Manager Alternative Drives at RVK.

UITP2019 Summit in Stockholm, Sweden. On Monday, June 10, 2019, at 3:00pm at Van Hool booth A1000

In February 2018 Van Hool, the independent bus, coach and industrial vehicles manufacturer, announced a significant contract with RVK Köln and WSW Wuppertal (Germany), to supply 40 hydrogen buses of the latest generation. This order consists of 30 fuel cell buses for Cologne and 10 for Wuppertal, making it the largest order for hydrogen-powered vehicles ever been placed in Europe. The first buses will be delivered beginning next month, in July of 2019.

The 40 hydrogen buses for Cologne (30) and Wuppertal (10) are hybrid vehicles (fuel cell and batteries) of the Van Hool A330 type with dual axles and a length of 12 metres. They will be equipped with the latest FCvelocity-HD85 Fuel Cell module from Ballard Power Systems of Vancouver, Canada and fitted with a 210kW Siemens PEM electric traction motor. The bus is designed for 29 seats and 46 (Cologne) and 49 (Wuppertal) standing passengers, with space for two wheelchair users and a pram. The procurement of these 40 fuel cell buses fits into the framework of Germany's national innovation program for hydrogen and fuel cell technology (NIP), and is financed by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI), financed by the “Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking” (FCH JU), the European public-private partnership is aimed at accelerating the market introduction of fuel cells and hydrogen technology, operating under the EU ‘Horizon 2020’ program. Van Hool has been building hydrogen buses for the American market since 2005 and for the European market since 2007. By now, Van Hool has sold over 110 hydrogen buses for North America (21) and Europe (90). Van Hool is an independent Belgian bus, coach and industrial vehicles manufacturer. The company, which was founded in 1947, is based in Koningshooikt. The majority of its production is destined for Europe and America. Van Hool has around 4,750 staff worldwide, the majority of whom work at the production facilities in Koningshooikt (Belgium) and Skopje (Macedonia). Note for the media : both Jan Van Hool, CTO at Van Hool, and Jens Conrad, Fachbereitsleiter Alternative Antriebe at Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH, are available on the Van Hool-booth A1000 on Monday, June 10 at 3:00pm to answer questions from the media.

Please contact Dirk SnauwaertPublic Relations Manager at Van Hoolmobile : +32 499 555 032 or email : dirk.snauwaert@vanhool.com

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