New South Wales-based ARCC has unveiled an all-Australian hydrogen fuel cell bus— the first of its kind to self-sufficiently produce zero emissions.
The prototype positions Australia as one of the leading front-runners in the global renewable transport industry, ARCC said in a media release.
Peter Murley, managing director at ARCC, said his company leveraged world-class technology and design to overtake other countries in the global market, marking a significant milestone for Australia and the local transport sector’s approach to addressing climate change.
“The bolted module design is the first of its kind and demonstrates the capacity we have in the zero-emission space, and that Australia has a self-sufficient solution to overcome current supply chain constraints,” Murley said.
Equipped with a modular design, ARCC’s technology is centred on the idea of using fewer resources to do more.
The technology also requires lower energy to operate thanks to the company’s lightweight structures that enable less wear and tear on components, Murley explained.
ARCC’s new hydrogen fuel cell bus is expected to roll out in March, paving the way for the launch of more vehicles in partnership with governments and bus operators.
“We know the pathway to zero emissions requires balancing the needs of operators with the load constraints on the power grid, which is why hydrogen vehicles play an important role as fleet numbers scale,” Murley said.
“ARCC works with individual and industry-leading OEM (original equipment manufacturers) on customised solutions to suit various applications and routes.”
In line with the federal government’s Long-Term Emissions Reduction Plan, which is aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, NSW is committed to transitioning over 8,000 diesel buses to become Australia’s first totally zero emission fleet.
Meanwhile, the Victorian state government has pledged to no longer purchase diesel buses for its fleet by 2025.
“This is a David and Goliath story, our small team has relied on grit and determination to achieve what many multinationals with huge amounts of capital are still trying to do, demonstrating Australia has outstanding capabilities within our shores,” Murley added.
