VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Loop Energy (TSX: LPEN), a developer and manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cell-based solutions, announces its partnership with METTEM-M Ltd., a developer of vehicle control systems and systems integrator, to provide hydrogen-electric powertrain solutions to commercial vehicle OEMs across Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and greater Europe. The companies’ first joint project — a hydrogen-electric transit bus for GAZ Group, a leading global commercial vehicle OEM provider — is presently on display at the International Commercial Vehicle Show 2021 (COMTRANS) in Moscow, Russia. The 12-meter passenger bus vehicle is expected to enter regular city transport service in Moscow, in early 2022, after completing customary road testing and vehicle level certification requirements.
Under this agreement, METTEM will use Loop’s eFlow™ powered fuel cell modules to develop and supply hydrogen-electric subsystems, powertrains, and complete vehicle solutions for a variety of applications including transit buses, logistics vehicles, and rail transport.
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The hydrogen-electric transit bus, currently showcased by its OEM at COMTRANS 2021, marks the first commercial achievement between Loop Energy and METTEM. The vehicle’s hydrogen-electric control system was developed by METTEM under the contract with GAZ Group — a leading manufacturer of light commercial and medium-duty vehicles, buses, powertrain, and automotive components, and special-use vehicles headquartered in Russia. The solution is using GAZ Group’s existing battery electric passenger bus platform, Loop Energy’s high-efficiency fuel cell modules, and METTEM’s fully integrated hydrogen-electric fuel cell system.
“Partnering with Loop was a natural next step for METTEM as we look to supply our OEM customers with mobility solutions that meet the growing demand in Russia and beyond for electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles over the next decade,” said Jan Drewitz, CEO of METTEM. “With Loop’s innovative fuel cell modules and our extensive powertrain and vehicle integration expertise, we foresee hydrogen-electric solutions, and the benefits of extended range, peak power performance, and fuel efficiency becoming the gold standard in the commercial vehicle market.”
“Collaborating with METTEM is a key milestone for both the adoption of hydrogen-electric solutions for commercial vehicles, as well as expanding Loop’s footprint in both Russian and greater European markets,” said George Rubin, Chief Commercial Officer of Loop Energy. “METTEM’s market knowledge and technical expertise bring an invaluable contribution to this partnership. We are seeing a steady demand for clean energy alternatives across the globe and are eager to work with a leading player in the commercial vehicle industry to provide sustainable solutions.”
