News

European Commission Vice President welcomes Hydrogen Bus Initiative

7th October 2006

Brussels, 5 October 2006

Purchasing zero emissions hydrogen-powered buses

Vice-President Jacques Barrot in charge of transport at the European Commission welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between six cities and regions in Europe and Canada are joining forces with the aim of buying environmentally friendly zero-emissions hydrogen-powered buses  Vice President Barrot said that “European transport policy seeks to develop mobility by disconnecting it from its harmful effects on the environment”.

“Hydrogen for transport is one of the elements that will make this sustainable mobility policy possible” – the Vice President added.

Today’s decision to go ahead with this international alliance was taken by the partners after the successful completion of the major EU-assisted hydrogen and fuel cell bus project CUTE (Clean Urban Transport for Europe). The European Commission fully supports this initiative as it sends a strong signal to the suppliers of hydrogen powered buses that potential markets exist for this new technology.

Other benefits, such as economies of scale, can be achieved through demonstrating joint demand for buses. This will also encourage suppliers to move towards the commercialisation of hydrogen buses as soon as possible. The alliance between cities represents a positive step towards the introduction of hydrogen powered technology beyond the demonstration phase, which is essential if we are to find solutions for addressing climate change and other environmental challenges.

The Memorandum of Understanding on purchasing zero emissions hydrogen-powered buses has been signed in the framework of the Third General Assembly of the Europe Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform. The signatory parties represent the following cities and regions: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, British Columbia Province, Hamburg and London.
For further information, see:
https://www.hfpeurope.org/
http://www.global-hydrogen-bus-platform.com/