Hydrogen Bus: Start of Test Operation for Zero-Emissions Bus in Vienna

From this summer, an emission-free model from Hyundai with a length of twelve meters will be used in Vienna for three years, explained Gudrun Senk, the technical director of Wiener Linien, on Thursday at the Leopoldau bus garage. There has been a refueling station for hydrogen-powered vehicles there since the end of 2021.

Zero-Emissions Bus: "Globally Innovative Technology" in Vienna

In March, Wiener Linien tested a hydrogen bus from the Munich manufacturer Arthur. "We are really trying to get all the vehicles available on the market to Vienna and test them in real operation," said Senk. With the 700-bar tank filling, the low-floor bus from Hyundai offers a "globally innovative technology." Now the vehicle is to undergo a stress test "on all lines" and "across the city."

The vehicle was developed in collaboration with the Slovenian bus manufacturer TAM. According to Roland Punzengruber, managing director of Hyundai Import GmbH, this is the first project outside Asia "where the chassis and the power train were combined," but at the same time with a Europeanized structure. The unique model has the ability to dual refuel - both with 350 bar and 700 bar. With 90 kW, the fuel cell from Korean Hyundai provides a potential range of up to 700 kilometers without emitting greenhouse gases.

Austria is certainly well-suited for the trials. Because the Alpine republic is "in terms of topography, climate conditions, but also in terms of the demands of bus operators certainly one of the toughest terrains in Europe," said Punzengruber.

More Hydrogen Buses Planned for 2025

In addition, from summer, the first of a total of ten hydrogen buses from the Portuguese CaetanoBus are to start on line 39A in Döbling and will be able to refuel at the Leopoldau bus garage. Also from mid-2025, minibuses from the Italian manufacturer Rampini, which operate both with hydrogen and electricity, are to be used on lines 2A and 3A in the Inner City. The refueling and charging stations for this are located on the campus of Wiener Netze in Simmering.

For these H2 buses, Wiener Linien is investing nearly 14 million euros, with the additional costs compared to conventional buses being covered 80 percent by the EBIN funding with EU funds. City Councilor for Transport Ulli Sima (SPÖ) sees the Austrian metropolis as a pioneer in this regard. "Wien Energie, Wiener Netze, and Wiener Linien have joined forces for the goal of climate neutrality by 2040 and are now implementing the hydrogen strategy of Wiener Stadtwerke step by step," it says in a statement.

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(APA/red)

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