Caetano has completed a three-week Dublin trial of its new H2.CityGold hydrogen fuel-cell-powered bus. The test was carried out in conjunction with Hydrogen Mobility Ireland (HMI).
The H2.CityGold is the first hydrogen bus to be operated in Ireland and has covered 1,864 miles on a variety of routes operated by CIÉ Group bus companies, Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus. The bus registered a hydrogen consumption of 5kg per 62 miles based on real-world operational conditions. Powered by a Toyota fuel-cell stack, it was refilled using hydrogen produced by BOC Gases Ireland Ltd. using renewable electricity and water.
Dublin Bus CEO, Ray Coyne, said, “This trial will give Dublin Bus valuable insights into an important carbon cutting technology. Hydrogen will play a really important role in the journey towards an even more low emission public transport fleet.”
Bus Éireann chief commercial officer, Stephen Kent, added, “Driver and customer feedback was very positive and we gained important experience ahead of our deployment of three hydrogen vehicles in 2021. Bus Éireann is targeting half our vehicles to be zero emission by 2030 and the additional range offered by hydrogen fuel cell vehicles makes them especially relevant given our mix of longer commuter, stage carriage and intercity services.”
Hydrogen fuel cell buses are already in operation in the UK with single- and double-decker vehicles in London, Aberdeen and Brighton. They are also planned in Birmingham and Liverpool City Region intends to purchase 25 buses from Wrightbus, which aims to roll-out 3,000 fuel-cell-powered buses by 2024.
