Bramble Energy, an innovator in fuel cell technology, has joined forces with Equipmake, Aeristech and the University of Bath to develop a revolutionary new H₂ double-deck bus integrating Bramble’s revolutionary, low-cost printed circuit board fuel cell (PCBFC) technology.

Bramble Energy is the lead partner of the H₂ Electric Integrated Drivetrain Initiative (HEIDI) which has received £6.3-MM funding from the Advanced Propulsion Centre as part of the Automotive Transformation Fund. The £6.3 MM awarded by the government will be matched by industry to a total of £12.7 MM.

The UK-based consortium will develop a H₂-powered double-deck bus, using first-of-its-kind fuel cell technology from Bramble Energy, Aeristech’s high efficiency air compressor and Equipmake’s motor power electronics and battery management system. The powertrain will be optimized through vehicle simulations carried out by the University of Bath.

Bramble Energy has been selected for this project due to its revolutionized fuel cell design and manufacturing process. Using a patented-protected printed circuit board technology, it can create bespoke fuel cell stacks in a matter of days at scale and low-cost. Bramble’s PCB technology eliminates the requirement for several complex and costly components found in a typical electrochemical stack, which not only simplifies the supply chain but also does not require vast retooling for manufacture.

The fuel cell stacks can be produced in almost any size and arrangement according to the end customer’s needs. The result is an unparalleled cost-effective solution to supporting and accelerating the decarbonization of public transport and to improve air quality in towns and cities around the world. 

Dr Vidal Bharath, CCO at Bramble Energy said, “Fuel cell technology can deliver a viable net-zero solution that lends itself to commercial vehicles where downtime needs to be limited. This consortium of partners means that we will be able to deliver a world-leading hybridized powertrain, utilizing our innovative low cost PCBFC technology for the bus sector, where there needs to be a viable electrified solution that can deliver on cost and scalability.”

In support of ambitions to build an end-to-end supply chain for zero-emission vehicles in the UK, the project is expected to support nearly 500 jobs over the next decade and save nearly 6 MMt of CO₂ from being emitted.

The UK based consortium in the HEIDI project will support fuel cell manufacturing in the UK for buses and commercial vehicles and, using a novel, low-cost method to manufacture fuel cells will accelerate the cost reduction of fuel cells, their use across society and the reduction of CO₂ emissions.