despite the loss of its 7 innovative buses, Belfort remains on the hydrogen path

On January 2, 2025, a fire completely destroyed the seven hydrogen buses in the Greater Belfort transport network. A hard blow which does not put a stop to territorial diversification projects, even if the hydrogen sector is in full doubt.

“The fire is not linked to hydrogen or its use”insists the Joint Public Transport Union (SMTC) of the Territoire de Belfort. The disaster is “probably” of electric origin, confirms Bruno Jamet, innovation and project director of the Pôle Véhicule du Futur competitiveness cluster, located in Étupes (Doubs), a few kilometers away. Enough to reassure hydrogen defenders.

On January 2, 2025, however, the entire fleet of hydrogen buses in the Optymo network went up in smoke at the Danjoutin depot (Territoire de Belfort). After breaking out in a bus, the fire spread to the six others parked nearby. A net loss of 4.8 million euros, hydrogen buses being more than twice as expensive as diesel buses, 700,000 euros compared to 280,000 euros per unit.

On the other hand, the safety systems to prevent explosions worked perfectly, in particular the hydrogen tank emptying system, which is triggered from a certain temperature and pressure. “There was no longer any risk linked to hydrogen because the tank was empty,” explains Bruno Jamet. No air or water pollution was observed, according to the prefecture which activated the departmental operational center as soon as the alert was given.

Better still, this unfortunate episode could set a precedent. The Vehicle of the Future division wants to create a working group bringing together different experts to “capitalize on this experience”. “This incident allows Belfort to gain operational experience and position itself even more as a benchmark hydrogen ecosystem”estimates Mikaa Blugeon-Mered, specialist in the geopolitics of hydrogen and teacher.

The Lion City, which dreams of becoming the French capital of the hydrogen sector, launched its first hydrogen-powered electric buses in the summer of 2023 for its public transport, with the aim of equipping half of its fleet with them. 'horizon 2026. And it will not turn around.

“It’s regrettable, but it does not call into question the hydrogen strategy at all,” insists Damien Meslot, the LR mayor of Belfort. Inaugurated last spring, the refueling station “is not affected”recalls for his part Marie-Guite Dufay, PS president of the Burgundy-Franche-Comté Regional Council, labeled hydrogen territory since 2016. “Optymo’s mobility project remains unchanged“, assures Franck Mesclier, director of SMTC. Half of Optymo buses will switch to hydrogen within a year.

In October, the network will receive eight articulated hydrogen buses, from the Solaris brand. Before summer, an order for twelve hydrogen buses “classics” must be confirmed, which could be increased to replace the burned buses.

But if the accident does not call into question the local strategy, the trials and errors of the sector are worrying. This is particularly the feeling of the electrolyser manufacturer McPhy, whose “gigafactory” is located in Foussemagne and which has drastically reduced its 2024 turnover.

“We are waiting for the State’s hydrogen strategysays Marie-Guite Dufay. “This illegibility is not favorable to investments.”According to her, “Fortunately” that there are communities like the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region or Grand Belfort to support this sector. “If we let the train pass under the pretext that it is not yet mature, we will be invaded by Chinese technology”she warns.

“We have done a lot on supply, but we must act on demand”believes Christophe Grudler, Renew MEP and coordinator of the Industry and Energy Committee. The problem is getting the market off the ground.”

The MoDem elected official, originally from Belfort, recalls the 2050 objective: 500 billion euros of public and private investment and one million new jobs in the sector. We wait “over the next few weeks” a document from the European Commission that will support these investments. “The hydrogen market is not in question. We absolutely need it for industry and heavy mobility,” he adds.