FlixMobility, which includes bus operator FlixBus, has unveiled plans to develop a long-distance zero-emission bus equipped with a high-performance hydrogen fuel cell system.
The HyFleet project will be carried out in collaboration with German companies Freudenberg Fuel Cell e-Power Systems and ZF Friedrichshafen AG.
When the development of the new technology is complete, FlixMobility aims to begin trials of the hydrogen buses on European intercity routes by 2024.
City buses with a hydrogen engine already exist on the market, but there are still no hydrogen solutions for long-distance buses due to the extremely high demands on this mode of transport.
For instance, FlixBus buses travel an average of 200,000km per year with distances of more than 1,000 km a day, and must be able to travel at least 500km to between fuel stops.
According to FlixBus, hydrogen offers great opportunities since it can reach or exceed the required driving range and its refueling time will be as short as for a diesel bus.
André Schwämmlein, founder and CEO of FlixMobility, said: “We are proud to be part of the HyFleet project to develop the first fuel cell-powered long-distance bus in Europe until 2024, together with Freudenberg and ZF.
“Fuel cell power technology is part of the green mobility revolution and gives bus producers the chance to shape the future of sustainable mobility.
“With this project, we continue our path of providing millions of people sustainable and affordable mobility. We are fully in line with the carbon neutrality objectives of the [European Union] and Germany and are ready to deliver.
“It’s great to see that the German government acknowledges the need for the transport sector to speed up its decarbonisation and is ready to support collective transport on this road.”
Image credit: FlixMobility
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