World’S First Hydrogen Powered Double Deck Bus Refuels At Suttons’ Depot

The first manufactured double decker hydrogen bus tour of the UK stopped off today (Thursday 21 October) at logistics sector market leader Suttons Tankers in Gretna to refuel on its way to COP26.

The UK Hydrogen Roadshow, a partnership between bus manufacturer Wrightbus, hydrogen distribution firm Ryze Hydrogen, and hydrogen production company INEOS through its INOVYN subsidiary, set off from London on Monday 18 October on a 600-mile journey to Glasgow ahead of the UN’s climate conference.

The roadshow – taking place on the world’s first hydrogen double decker bus, the Wrightbus Hydroliner – is stopping at various businesses along the way to highlight the potential that low-carbon hydrogen fuel has to play in various industries.

It called into Suttons Tankers’ Gretna depot to fill up on hydrogen fuel on its journey.

Suttons Tankers is working with roadshow partners Ryze and INEOS as they look for further opportunities across a number of sites in the UK for hydrogen delivery over the coming years as the hydrogen economy grows.

Ryze Hydrogen is working with Suttons as a market leader in the logistics sector for bulk gas distribution to transport hydrogen for refuelling Wrightbus Hydroliner hydrogen double decker buses.

The hydrogen for these buses is manufactured by INEOS at its Runcorn site, which has been producing hydrogen there for more than 100 years.

Suttons has recently appointed Steve Hassall as Fleet Director to have an increased focus on its fleet sustainability strategy.

The nationwide logistics provider is part of the Aggregated Hydrogen Freight Consortium, an organisation that brings together hydrogen suppliers, hydrogen truck manufacturers and potential users of hydrogen powered vehicles. As part of this, Suttons will be trialling a hydrogen fuel cell tractor unit in 2022 with a view of adopting hydrogen fuel cell tractor units into the fleet as part of their sustainability strategy.

Michael Cundy, Managing Director of Suttons Tankers, says:

“We are very proud to partner with Ryze Hydrogen and be involved in the fuelling of the world’s first hydrogen powered double-decker buses in London.

“Alternative fuels, in particular, hydrogen, are a huge focus in the sustainability agenda, so we are delighted to be trialling the hydrogen powered tractor units in the new year.

“As a haulier with nationwide coverage, we are conscious of our carbon footprint so, on a day to day basis, pay strong attention to driving style, maximising payloads, back-hauling and reducing wasted journeys.”

In addition to Suttons Tankers, the tour will visit pioneering aviation firm ZeroAvia, transport provider National Express West Midlands, construction equipment giant JCB, INOVYN’s Runcorn plant, heating provider Baxi Boilers, hydrogen storage, and distribution and dispensing firm NanoSUN before making its way to a Glasgow school, where pupils will get to find out more about the potential of hydrogen as a fuel.

Wrightbus and Ryze CEO, Buta Atwal, said: “We’ve long been excited about the potential benefits of hydrogen, not only in helping the UK to achieve a huge CO₂ reduction, but in terms of the green jobs and wider economic benefits that a strong hydrogen sector can bring.

“This tour is really highlighting the fantastic innovation happening up and down the country at firms such as Suttons Tankers as we move towards a zero-carbon future.”