Germany-based bus operator West Verkehr has ordered a fleet of 12 Wrightbus Kite Hydroliners after a Europe-wide tender process. The single-deck hydrogen buses will be rolled out across the town of Geilenkirchen.

The Kite has a range of up to 640 miles and can carry up to 90 passengers. The bus shares 86% parts commonality with its Double Deck sister, the StreetDeck Hydroliner FCEV. That means it will provide considerable benefits to operators in terms of reducing fleet maintenance costs.

The Kite is powered by a 70 kW Ballard FCmove duel cell module, with a 30 kWh or 45 kWh battery pack.

The order is a significant one for Northern Ireland-based Wrightbus as it continues to break into the global sustainable transport market.

Last year, Wrightbus signed a deal with German Bus operator Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH (RVK) to supply up to 60 Kite Hydroliner single deck buses.

The new buses will be manufactured at Wrightbus’s headquarters in Ballymena. Wrightbus offers both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell single- and double-decks.