ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC) is taking significant steps in its quest for greener bus journeys and cleaner air in a partnership with Australian sustainable energy and vehicle suppliers that will see it operating two hydrogen powered fuel cell electric buses in Geelong.
The Geelong New Energies Service Station project, of which CDC is a foundation partner, is a multi-million dollar hydrogen mobility development led by Viva Energy, a long-term fuelling partner of CDC. Together, the partners have worked with the Federal Government via the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Victorian State Government via the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to launch what promises to be Australia’s most ambitious green hydrogen mobility project.
The New Energies Service Station project, which received a $22.8 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program and a $1 million grant from the Victorian Government via the Renewable Hydrogen Commercialisation Pathways Fund, will see the establishment of a refuelling station in Geelong in late 2023. It will be Australia’s first publicly accessible commercial-scale hydrogen refuelling station co-located with electric vehicle recharging infrastructure. The project also includes other foundation partners deploying a diverse fleet of hydrogen-fuelled heavy vehicles that will operate in the local community.
CDC’s two fuel cell electric (FCEV) buses are scheduled to service customers from late 2023 and provide customers with a smoother, quieter ride compared to their diesel-engine counterparts. These buses will be manufactured and delivered by an Australian-based manufacturer, Aluminium Revolutionary Chassis Company (ARCC).
Achieving zero emissions across Victoria’s bus fleet is critical to meeting the State’s legislated commitment to zero net emissions by 2050, and the Victorian Department of Transport is working with bus operators towards this transition.
ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC) CEO, Nicholas Yap, said ComfortDelGro has significant experience deploying hydrogen buses in London and is excited to partner with Viva Energy for CDC’s first hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric buses in Australia.
“At CDC we have consistently demonstrated our commitment to reducing greenhouse and particulate emissions in public transport with Australia’s first hybrid bus technology offering zone-based zero emissions,” Mr Yap said.
“We see strong potential for hydrogen and importantly an eco-system of Australian based providers driving collectively toward a cleaner future for Australians. Our rollout of two new hydrogen-powered buses is also great news for our customers in Geelong who will experience this exciting technology and a smoother ride on their daily commute.”
Viva Energy CEO and MD Mr Scott Wyatt said Viva Energy is delighted to be partnering with ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC) to demonstrate the important role that hydrogen will play in the future of public transportation in Victoria and Australia.
“ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia has come on this journey with us and we share their excitement about what it means for the future of zero-emissions public transport,” Mr Wyatt said.
“This project puts hydrogen-powered vehicles on the road – including buses that will transport customers throughout Geelong – to prove their value in day-to-day commercial operations while reducing the carbon footprint of the public transport we rely on every day.”
