Germany – Ruhrbahn puts first hydrogen buses into operation
Essen (energate) – In March, Ruhrbahn will start trial operation of the first hydrogen buses in Essen and Mülheim an der Ruhr. Nineteen vehicles have been ordered for the test, nine of which have already been delivered by Polish manufacturer Solaris, with ten more to follow by mid-2025. Operation will start on 17 March.
Ruhrbahn decided to convert its bus fleet to hydrogen in 2021. By the target date of 2033, 212 hydrogen buses will be on the road in Essen for local public transport. In Mülheim, 46 fuel cell vehicles are planned. Before phase 2 is implemented in 2026, a test phase and a review and referral to the committees is planned. The purchase of the new vehicles – a total of ten Urbino 18 hydrogen articulated buses and nine Urbino 12 hydrogen solo buses – is being subsidised by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to the tune of 4.8 million euros. According to Ruhrbahn, a solo bus costs around 720,000 euros. /tc
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Germany – Ruhrbahn puts first hydrogen buses into operation, source
