The Longreach Hydrogen fuel cell bus is Australian manufacturer ARCC’s flagship zero-emission vehicle and is powered by Ballard. Since completing phased testing in 2023, the bus has achieved several positive milestones in Australia demonstrating its serviceability as a safe and sustainable alternative to the diesel-powered models that monopolize the market Down Under.
In October 2024, ARCC’s Longreach Hydrogen fleet celebrated a year in service in Footscray, Victoria – with buses in the region performing above expectations, recording an average of 18-19km per kilogram of hydrogen efficiency. This followed encouraging news from March 2024, when the fuel cell bus completed 4,000km in operation serving public roads in Wollongong, Illawarra.
The Ballard-powered model has also been in service on the Gong Shuttle and numerous other routes across Illawarra - while also serving as an emergency rail replacement when Australia's south coast was hit by severe flooding in early 2024.
Rounding off a successful 12 months for ARCC's decarbonized bus, the company shipped Australia's first privately-sold hydrogen-powered zero-emission bus to Singapore-based multi-modal transport operator ComfortDelGro's Geelong depot on January 16, with deployment expected in Victoria in July this year.
ARCC is the most experienced manufacturer of hydrogen vehicles currently in Australia, with hydrogen city buses currently operating in New South Wales and Victoria, which have proved their exceptional efficiency, durability, and reliability since entering service at the end of 2023.
The Longreach Hydrogen features ARCC’s modular Hydrogen Power Module (HPM), which integrates Ballard’s 70kW FCmove®-HD fuel cell engine.