Hype, an independent pure player in zero-emission mobility, launches its taxi service in the Belgian capital.
Since its launch in Paris in 2015 at COP21, Hype has become, with more than 2 million passengers transported and the trust of major private and public decision-makers who have chosen its nonpolluting service, one of the major players in the Paris region taxi market. Hype, which operates the world’s largest fleet of hydrogen taxis, while deploying its own green hydrogen production and distribution network open to all, has chosen Brussels to launch its zero-emission taxi service for the first time outside France.
In this context Hype, via its mobile application, will make it possible for all Brussels taxi customers to order a 100% electric taxi, powered by battery and/or hydrogen, at no extra cost.
On this occasion, Hype is launching the first hydrogen taxis adapted for People with Reduced Mobility (PRM) in Brussels. Developed over a two-year cooperation with Stellantis, these vehicles are 100% electric “hybrids”, i.e. they include both a rechargeable battery (of reasonable size and weight) and a hydrogen fuel cell system, thereby optimising functionality and energy efficiency. Hype will also propose 2nd generation Toyota Mirais as well as Hyundai Nexos, offering drivers and clients a complete range of zero-emission taxi vehicles.
Introducing Hype in the city of Brussels is the result of several years of preparation – underscored by collaborative efforts with local taxi operators aimed at getting a good understanding of driver’ needs – and is part of Hype’s deployment which will integrate 16 cities/regions by the end of 2026. The first selected cities/regions – besides Paris and Brussels – are Le Mans, Bordeaux, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon and Porto, forming an Atlantic-Mediterranean hydrogen corridor. This corridor, which includes the deployment of an initial batch of green hydrogen stations in each city, is supported by the European Union (EU), notably through the “European Hydrogen Network by Hype” project, selected by the CEF – Transport – AFIF (Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility) competitive call for projects launched by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) of the European Commission.
The cities/regions selected by Hype are fully committed to the energy transition and have made zeroemission mobility a concrete short-term priority. This is the case of Brussels, which has undertaken several initiatives on these matters, including introducing new “zero-emission electric” taxi licences in 2014 and “zero-emission hydrogen” licences in 2023. Hype is awaiting the results of the examination of the applications it has submitted, including those in the PRM category.
Brussels aims to organise the transition of all taxis to “zero-emission” from January 1, 2025. Hype is determined to contribute to making this goal achievable, as it has done in Paris, which by the end of 2024 will have more than 1500 hydrogen-powered electric taxis and several hundred battery-electric taxis. On the one hand, for taxi drivers, Hype will deploy new green hydrogen refuelling stations around Brussels and offer competitive packaged solutions (including vehicle + energy at these stations + Hype booking application) to facilitate the transition for those opting for this solution. On the other hand, via its mobile application, Hype will allow its clients to choose zero-emission taxis, battery or hydrogen, at the same price as a polluting taxi.
Mathieu Gardies, Chairman, CEO and Founder of Hype, said: “There is no sustainable future without the objective of stopping the use of fossil fuels wherever it is already possible, especially in the taxi sector. That’s why Hype was created, and invests 100% of its capacities and resources to immediately tackle pollution and global warming. By organising the allocation of licences for battery-electric and hydrogen vehicles – two immediately available, necessary and complementary solutions – the Brussels region has taken the initiative we have been waiting for to accelerate and scale up, after several years of preparation. As we have done in Paris for the past 8 years, we are now going to provide our clients in Brussels with a premium, safe and responsible zero-emission taxi service, at the same price as a polluting taxi, and make it possible for clients and drivers to switch massively towards these solutions, within conditions that are acceptable for them”.
Launched in Paris in 2015 at COP 21 in response to the public health emergency of air and noise pollution in urban areas, Hype is developing the first zero emission mobility platform, integrating production and distribution of green hydrogen, with taxis as the first relevant market. Hype, which has been operating the world’s largest fleet of hydrogen-powered taxis for eight years, now seeks to organise the switch of taxis and professional mobility users to zero emission.
Leveraging its speed of execution and agility with its scalable and integrated model facilitating the use of zero emission mobility solutions for as many drivers and customers as possible in the short term, Hype plans to deploy its platform in 15 other cities/ regions in France and around the world by the end of 2026.
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