Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP) announced that Wrightbus has selected the company as the fuel cell supplier for its StreetDeck Hydroliner Gen 3.0 hydrogen bus platform. The partnership will integrate Ballard's FCmove-SC hydrogen fuel cell engine into Wrightbus' double-decker fuel cell electric vehicle bus, with series production scheduled to begin in 2027.

Ballard launched the FCmove-SC platform in late 2025. The engine features higher efficiency, extended durability, and simplified system architecture designed to reduce total cost of ownership for transit operators, according to the company's press release.

"Our next generation hydrogen bus is all about creating a TCO that is comparable to battery-electric and there are plenty of examples where electric doesn't provide the range needed for efficient daily operation or where the cost of infrastructure is prohibitive," said Paul King, Wrightbus' Chief Procurement Officer.

Ballard reported that its fuel cell-powered fleets include more than 2,200 buses worldwide, which have collectively traveled over 300 million kilometers with 98% availability. The company stated there have been zero reported safety incidents.

Wrightbus, based in the UK, manufactures zero-emission buses and developed the world's first hydrogen-powered double-deck bus. The company has been operating since 1946 and produces battery-electric and hydrogen mobility solutions for transit agencies.

The partnership extends an existing collaboration between the two companies. Ballard's FCmove-SC engine targets long-range, high-utilization duty cycles where hydrogen fuel cell buses may offer operational advantages over battery-electric alternatives, according to the announcement.