ATS
The year got off to a bad start for the Greater Belfort bus network, which saw its seven innovative hydrogen buses destroyed by a fire. This hard blow does not, however, call into question the territory’s diversification strategy, even if the sector is in full doubt.
“The fire is not linked to hydrogen or its use,” underlines the Joint Public Transport Union (SMTC) of the Territoire de Belfort, which manages the departmental bus network. The disaster of January 2 was “probably” of electrical origin, continues Bruno Jamet, innovation and project director of the Pôle Véhicule du Futur competitiveness cluster, located in Étupes (Doubs), not far from Belfort, and organizer of the international Hydrogen business forum. for climate.
After breaking out in a bus, the fire spread to the six others parked nearby. This investment amounted to 4.8 million euros, with hydrogen buses being more than twice as expensive as diesels.
The safety systems to prevent explosions worked perfectly, in particular the hydrogen tank emptying system, which is triggered at a certain temperature and pressure. “There was no longer any risk linked to hydrogen because the tank was empty,” explains Bruno Jamet.
Continuation of the hydrogen strategy
No air or water pollution has been noted, also indicates Damien Meslot, president (LR) of the Greater Belfort conurbation.
“This incident allows Belfort to gain operational experience and position itself even more as a benchmark hydrogen ecosystem,” estimates Mikaa Blugeon-Mered, specialist in hydrogen geopolitics and teacher.
The Vehicle of the Future division wants to create a working group bringing together different experts to “capitalize on this experience”. “It’s regrettable, but it does not call into question the hydrogen strategy at all,” insists Damien Meslot.
Inaugurated last spring, the refueling station “is not affected”, notes Marie-Guite Dufay, socialist president of the Burgundy-Franche-Comté Regional Council, labeled hydrogen territory since 2016.
“Optymo’s mobility project remains unchanged,” also confirms Franck Mesclier, director of SMTC. Half of the Optymo bus fleet will run on hydrogen, normally by 2026.
-Other buses already ordered
Indeed, the hydrogen which is used in these buses to power a fuel cell in order to produce electricity, still meets its needs, in particular that of autonomy since on certain network lines the vehicles run up to 400 kilometers, too long a distance for 100% battery electric buses, for example.
In October, the network will receive eight articulated hydrogen buses, from the Solaris brand. Before summer, an order for twelve “classic” hydrogen buses must be confirmed, which could be increased to replace the burned buses.
However, if the accident does not call into question the local strategy, the trials and errors of the sector are worrying, like the electrolyser manufacturer McPhy, whose “gigafactory” is installed in Foussemagne, just next to Belfort, and which drastically revised its 2024 turnover downwards.
Supporting the sector at start-up
“We are waiting for the State’s hydrogen strategy,” says Marie-Guite Dufay. “This illegibility is not favorable to investments,” she regrets. “We are in a phase where public support is important.”
According to her, “fortunately” there are communities like the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region or Grand Belfort, “pioneers”. “If we let the train pass under the pretext that it is not yet mature, we will be invaded by Chinese technology,” she warns.
“The battle for the decarbonization of industry and mobility requires consistency and not abandoning everything at the first difficulty,” agrees expert Mikaa Blugeon-Mered.
“We have done a lot on supply, but we must act on demand,” says Christophe Grudler, Renew MEP, originally from Belfort and coordinator of the Industry and Energy Committee. “The problem is getting the market off the ground,” he adds.
Mr. Grudler recalls the 2050 objective: 500 billion euros of public and private investment and one million new jobs in the sector. We are expecting “in the coming weeks” a document from the European Commission which will support these investments. “The hydrogen market is not in question. We absolutely need it for industry and heavy mobility.”
Belfort is still convinced of this.
