When visiting Brussels we had time to discuss with Jean-Luc Deflandre, a pionier in electric busses. We go way back as friendly competitors. 😜
After 20 years playing the ambassador role for electric busses for different brands in the EU, he is now focusing on hydrogen city busses.
Jean-Luc managed to sell more the 150 hydrogen busses for Wrightbus in the EU the last two years.
For a growing number of cities in the EU, hydrogen busses are recognized as a better solution, thanks to the range, short refilling time and no congestion issues.
Wrightbus, after the takeover by the JCB, is focusing on the export of zero emission city busses to the EU.
Within the JCB group development from the battery electric fuel cell and the hydrogen combustion engine goes simultaneously. The future will decide which solution will be chosen, depending on the project.
It was a pleasure speaking to Jean-Luc and to see learn about his view of the European zero emission bus market. Hydrogen city buses will be the solutions next to the Battery Electric Busses when the local grid is inefficient or the efficiently of the bus is very high.
