New Zealand’s first hydrogen fuel cell bus was officially unveiled on 31 March 2021 at Ports of Auckland, marking a major milestone in the country’s transition to low-emission public transport. The three-axle bus, Auckland Transport’s largest single-deck vehicle, was introduced as part of the Hydrogen Demonstration Project and will be refuelled using green hydrogen. Designed to evaluate real-world performance and operating costs, the bus can carry 43 seated passengers and 31 standing passengers.
Built in Christchurch by GBV, the bus entered a two-year operational trial on Route 70 between Botany and Britomart via Panmure. GBV was responsible for the full vehicle design and hydrogen-electric system integration. Despite COVID-19 border restrictions preventing international technical support, GBV completed the integration locally, delivered the project on time and achieved full New Zealand safety and compliance certification at a time when many imported electric buses failed to meet the same standards.