Wrightbus has named Dave Porter as Head of Coach Sales. He brings over three decades’ experience in the coach market and his arrival forms part of the manufacturer’s efforts to develop and deliver a long-range hydrogen fuel cell-electric coach.
First vehicles in that field are to go into production in 2026. Earlier in September Wrightbus showed a driveline demonstrator at the Cenex show and Mr Porter says that he aims to “assist and drive the development and design aspect of this vehicle, ensuring that we produce a product that fulfils customers’ operational needs.”
That aside, an immediate priority will be to engage with customers to seek views on the coach development “so that we are offering something that they want, not what we think they want,” adds Mr Porter.
Putting potential buyers’ voices at the forefront of the coachbuilding process is part of that work. Mr Porter will thus split his time between Ballymena and visiting customers.
“In the coach environment, the challenge is the range. Current battery-electric technology that has been used so far has limitations in this area, so there is a lot of excitement about the potential for a 1,000km hydrogen-powered vehicle,” he continues.
“Many thought that zero-emission coaches would not come close to the range that diesel could offer and suddenly, here it is on the horizon.”
Mr Porter spent many years with Volvo in customer service and then coach sales, having joined that business after his former employer – Yeates – was purchased. He then spent time with Van Hool UK.
While zero-emission is at its early stages for coaches, Mr Porter adds that such a challenge “is the main appeal and the drive to make it happen.”
He continues: “We will find a way through the difficulties. It has to be a collaborative process. The sustainability aspect is very important both to me personally and the sector. There are fewer small companies in the coach arena than a few years ago and these larger operators are thinking more about their green credentials, and also the need to offer their customers a zero-emission option.”
Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales has welcomed Mr Porter to the business and described its ongoing work on a hydrogen coach as “a technical tour de force.”
Adds Mr Gales: “Coach operators require six to 10 cubic metres of luggage space. You need at least 50 to 60 seats and access for disabled people, and enough packaging to put the tanks and the hydrogen cooling system and the fuel cells in.
“But we can do it, we have the technical expertise with fuel cells; we have the best engineers on the market for fuel cell buses.”
