The MoU sets out the framework for Pure Hydrogen to supply up to five buses from its leading fleet of hydrogen-powered passenger transport vehicles, along with associated hydrogen infrastructure. The MoU stipulates that the vehicles will be used as part of a demonstration of hydrogen vehicles in Ho Chi Minh City, which will be funded by the VAHC and Vietnam Tourism Partners and Industrial Partners.

In accordance with the MoU, the VAHC has expressed interest in up to three hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) minibuses, and two HFC coaches, to be supplied by Pure Hydrogen and manufactured by Pure Hydrogen subsidiary Hdrive International.

The MoU is non-binding except for a few clauses and also sets out a framework for the supply by Pure Hydrogen of a 1MW alkaline electrolyser for hydrogen production, along with hydrogen refuelling equipment. If fully executed, the proposed supply order set out in the MoU is expected to generate revenue for Pure Hydrogen of approximately $8.8 million.

The demonstration will include the deployment of HFC minibuses to run sightseeing tours, as well as hydrogen production and refuelling, to highlight the end- to-end use case for hydrogen vehicles as part of Vietnam’s passenger transport infrastructure.

The public transport bus network in Ho Chi Minh City has 152 different bus routes and covers most major tourism destinations around the city. As part of the Vietnam government’s strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, policymakers are targeting a significant reduction in diesel bus fleets for major Vietnamese cities.

By 2030, it’s expected that between 70-90 per cent of diesel buses will be replaced with clean energy alternatives. Through its MoU with Pure Hydrogen, the VAHC aims to highlight how hydrogen vehicles can play a key role in Vietnam’s transition to clean energy solutions for passenger transport services.

Scott Brown, managing director of Pure Hydrogen, said, “We are pleased to sign this MoU with the Vietnam ASEAN Hydrogen Club, which sets out the framework for a comprehensive hydrogen vehicle supply agreement as part of the Vietnam government’s stated priority to implement clean energy alternatives for passenger transport services. The completion of the MoU follows an extensive period of negotiation and collaboration between the parties, and we look forward to working to delivery the HFC buses and hydrogen equipment to VAHC."

"Vietnam has made a clear policy commitment to significantly reduce carbon emissions from its extensive passenger transport networks across major cities, and we look forward to playing a key role and in spearheading that shift with our market-leading hydrogen vehicle fleet. Increasingly, we are seeing strong interest in our products global, and we believe this will lead to more orders in the future,” he said.

Le Ngoc Anh Min, executive chairman of VAHC, said, “We want to establish one of the first hydrogen demonstration projects in Vietnam, at first for new mobility in the municipal city. We will show investors, industrial partners, researchers, and policymakers how tourists can enjoy this new mode of transport that produces zero emission in the city. We want to create a hydrogen society in Vietnam and ASEAN with international partners and investors. Working with Pure Hydrogen, we look forward to deepening our collaboration with Australia at different levels and fields to create strong business ties between the countries, especially their private sectors."