Hydrogen's New Standard Set in 24 Hours

Wrightbus and Solaris both chose Ballard's FCmove-SC within 24 hours, marking a turning point for hydrogen transit

3 Jun 2026

On a single day in May 2026, two of Europe's leading bus manufacturers independently reached the same conclusion. Wrightbus and Solaris both selected Ballard Power Systems' FCmove-SC fuel cell engine for their next-generation platforms, back to back, within 24 hours of each other. Simultaneous OEM confidence at that pace is rare in any technology sector, let alone one still closing the gap on diesel economics.

Launched at Busworld Brussels in October 2025, the FCmove-SC is Ballard's ninth-generation transit engine. Built for city duty cycles, it delivers 30% more end-of-life system power than its predecessor, a quarter improvement in volumetric power density through integrated DC/DC packaging, and a projected service life of around 25,000 operating hours. Wrightbus is integrating it into the StreetDeck Hydroliner Gen 3.0 double-decker platform, with series production targeted for 2027.

Underpinning both nominations is an operational track record that is difficult to argue with. Ballard's global fleet of more than 2,200 fuel cell buses has covered over 300 million kilometers at 98% availability, with zero safety incidents. For OEMs committing to a new-generation hydrogen powertrain, that history materially lowers the perceived risk.

Solaris made its selection one day earlier, simultaneously extending its supply agreement with Ballard through 2029. The Polish manufacturer is no bit player: in 2025, it accounted for roughly 277 of the 558 hydrogen fuel cell bus registrations across Europe, about half the continent's market. By standardizing on the FCmove-SC for its Generation 2 platform, Solaris added serious commercial weight to what Wrightbus confirmed the following morning.

Headwinds remain. Variable hydrogen pricing and uneven refueling coverage across European cities still constrain the fleet-level economics operators need to commit at scale. Neither nomination solves those infrastructure gaps.

Manufacturing pipelines, though, are being built now. With two leading OEMs aligned on a single platform heading into 2027, the FCmove-SC is fast becoming the engine that defines what hydrogen transit looks like next.