On the 20th of February 2025, we were proud to attend the official launch of the Wrightbus Streetdeck Hydroliner Gen 2.0 – the latest hydrogen double-deck bus, setting new standards for zero-emission public transport.
The event marked the culmination of a four-year, part-government-funded project designed to drive innovation and accelerate the transition to clean hydrogen-powered mobility.
As the specialist HVAC and thermal management partner, Grayson Thermal Systems worked alongside Wrightbus, Queen’s University Belfast, HYGEN, Translink, and other key partners to bring this pioneering project to life. Our mission? To develop next-generation thermal management technologies that ensure the performance, efficiency, and reliability needed to support hydrogen fuel cell buses at scale.
Innovating for the Future of Hydrogen Transport
At the event, our Engineering Director, Brendan Waldron, and Head of Advanced Engineering, Nathan Stephens, took attendees through Grayson’s contributions to this project.
Throughout the initiative, we developed and engineered the key building blocks for efficient, high-performance total thermal management solutions, ready to meet the needs of the next generation of hydrogen bus platforms. These essential system components included:
New Magnetic Drive Electric Water Pump
A cutting-edge electric water pump designed for hydrogen fuel cells, traction motor cooling, battery thermal management, and cabin HVAC. Unlike conventional designs, our MagDrive operates without a mechanical seal, reducing lifetime maintenance costs while delivering superior reliability.
Bespoke Smart Controller Platform
We developed an advanced thermal management control system, consolidating 11 separate controllers into a single, intelligent master board. This breakthrough not only streamlined system architecture but also enhanced reliability and ensured we remain cost-competitive when produced in growing annual volumes.
High-Voltage 860V DC Refrigerant Compressor
As the industry moves toward higher-voltage architectures, we ensured the bus’s HVAC system was ready for future battery technologies. By upgrading our battery thermal management system platform with a new 860V DC refrigerant compressor, we can guarantee greater efficiency for fleet operators for both FCEV and BEV applications.
Combined with our 600V DC driver cabin air conditioning unit and cooling module for 70kW and 100kW fuel cells, we delivered a thermal management system ready to perform in all conditions.
A Defining Moment for Hydrogen Transport
The launch of the Streetdeck Hydroliner Gen 2.0 represents more than just the unveiling of a new bus – it’s a testament to what can be achieved when engineering excellence, collaboration, and a commitment to innovation come together.
For Grayson, this project has been a chance to push the boundaries of hydrogen thermal management, develop cutting-edge products, and work alongside some of the leading researchers and academics in the field. It has further solidified our role as a trusted partner to OEMs, helping to deliver the zero-emission vehicles of the future.
Not only did we enhance our FCEV capabilities during this project, with each new system component developed under the APC17 project can also be applied to BEV applications, ensuring we have the skills and technology to heat and cool all zero-emission applications.
What’s Next?
This milestone is just the beginning. As zero-emission adoption accelerates we have positioned ourselves to provide market-leading solutions for hydrogen and battery electric vehicles.
We continue to invest in R&D, refine our high-voltage capabilities, and explore new efficiencies in thermal management. New possibilities through leveraging real-time CAN data and our increasing digital capabilities are on the horizon, enabling us to harness these insights to drive even greater efficiencies in our systems.
We want to thank Wrightbus, the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, Queen’s University Belfast, HYGEN, Translink, and all our project partners for collaborating on this important journey. Together, we’re shaping a cleaner, more sustainable future for bus transportation.
Want to learn more about how Grayson Thermal Systems is supporting the hydrogen revolution? Get in touch with our team today
