Ineos Shows off Its Hydrogen Tech with UK Road Trip

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

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19th October 2021

UK luxury car brand Ineos is using a hydrogen fuel-cell converted bus to showcase its powertrain technology on an extended road trip.

The first-ever hydrogen bus tour of the UK set off from London this week attempting to highlight the part hydrogen has to play in the country’s race to net zero. This UK Hydrogen Roadshow, a partnership between bus manufacturer Wrightbus, hydrogen distribution firm Ryze Hydrogen and the hydrogen production subsidiary to Ineos, Inovyn, will see the world’s first hydrogen double decker bus, the Wrightbus Hydroliner, travel a 600-mile route as it makes its way from London to Glasgow for the UN’s climate conference, COP26.

The tour will visit zero emissions aviation firm ZeroAvia, transport provider National Express West Midlands, construction equipment giant JCB, heating provider Baxi Boilers, hydrogen storage, distribution and dispensing firm NanoSUN and gas distribution logistics experts Suttons Tankers before making its way to a Glasgow school, where pupils will get to find out more about the potential of hydrogen as a fuel.

The roadshow will also mark the announcement of a significant partnership between Wrightbus and Ineos, as the firms work together to create hydrogen solutions. Wrightbus and Ryze Executive Chairman, Jo Bamford (pictured), who bought the firm out of administration just two years ago and has turned it around, said: “Hydrogen technology has the potential to create and sustain hundreds of thousands of high-quality jobs in all parts of the UK, covering many different sectors. At Wrightbus, we’re really walking the walk. Not only have we pioneered zero emissions transport but we‘ve increased the workforce from 56 to more than 900 in just two years and have introduced four zero emission buses in the 12 months.

“Our hydrogen double decker is a world first, a tremendous accolade for our factory in Northern Ireland, and we’re delighted to be partnering with Ineos to undertake this mammoth UK tour as part of our journey up to COP. Our route will take in stops with partners who are at the forefront of hydrogen technology, including aviation, heavy plant machinery and heating. We’ll also be talking to companies working to create the important infrastructure needed to produce hydrogen at the levels we need to realize our ambitions for a strong UK-wide hydrogen economy.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_