I realise the hydrogen buses from Lea Interchange have stopped operating and removed from service. What is TFL planning to do with the redundant vehicles, are they for sale or to be redeployed? What price would you expect and would that include the Ballard Fuel Cell module. Have any buyers come forward or sale agreed and to whom?

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TfL Ref: FOI-0053-1920

Thank you for your email received by Transport for London (TfL) on 8 April 2020.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.  I can confirm we hold some of the information you require. You asked:

I realise the hydrogen buses from Lea Interchange have stopped operating and removed from service. What is TFL planning to do with the redundant vehicles, are they for sale or to be redeployed? What price would you expect and would that include the Ballard Fuel Cell module.

Have any buyers come forward or sale agreed and to whom?

The hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles remain in the London fleet but are not in use currently. They were previously deployed on the RV1 service between Covent Garden and Tower Gateway until it was withdrawn in 2019. They were then moved to the 444 service before this route was retendered and moved to another operator, with electric vehicles subsequently deployed. The trial of these second generation vehicles is coming to a conclusion, however, as the refuelling contract ended in March 2020.

We would like the vehicles to continue in some operational capacity as they still have life in them after mostly 10 years of service, although that is unlikely to be in London. We are engaging with stakeholders including private businesses, universities and manufacturers to see if there is interest in running them, potential locally or elsewhere in the UK, or using them in a way that helps develop or raise the profile of hydrogen vehicle technologies. As this is at an early stage, we have made no decisions on their future and any residual value they might have for us should they move to a third party.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Eva Hextall

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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