GP JOULE hands over hydrogen buses to DB subsidiary Autokraft in Germany.
100 percent emission-free and a lot of comfort: The two fuel cell buses of the hydrogen pioneering eFarm project were handed in Niebüll to their new owner – Autokraft GmbH, a subsidiary of DB Regio Bus Nord. They are to operate on regular services in North Frisia from 20 May. This means that the final phase of the eFarm project initiated by GP JOULE has been put into practice.
The buses will be refuelled with climate-neutral hydrogen generated with regional wind power at the two filling stations in Niebüll and Husum, which are part of the project. One tank is enough for 400 kilometers. This corresponds to a regular operating day in regular services, so that the buses can be used flexibly on 50 bus connections around Niebüll and Husum.
Model for regional added value through the energy transition
Daniel Marx, who is responsible for Autokraft GmbH as Chairman of the Regional Management of DB Regio Bus Nord.
Thanks to eFarm, we are the first bus company in Germany to refuel not only climate-neutral, but also regional hydrogen.
“We are looking forward to the experience we will gain with fuel cell technology in daily use, because it is our declared goal to promote alternative drives in Schleswig-Holstein public transport.”
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Landrat Florian Lorenzen.
The eFarm project in the district of Nordfriesland creates a blueprint for sustainable mobility, which more and more regions across Germany are following.
Ove Petersen, co-founder and CEO of the GP JOULE Group.
With the handover of the two buses, we are also putting the last stage of the eFarm project into practice. In doing so, we have shown how the energy and transport transition can create new economies with regional added value.
Comfortable, clean and safe
The two two-door low-floor buses of type “H2. City Gold” comes from the Portuguese manufacturer CaetanoBus.
Kohei Umeno, Commercial Director of CaetanoBus.
GP JOULE is developing one of the largest hydrogen mobility concepts in Germany.
“We are very proud that Caetano is using the H2. City Gold is part of this initiative and helps to shape a greener future for all of us,”
Toyota’s hydrogen tanks, batteries and fuel cell system are placed on the roof of the buses. The fact that the buses travel almost silently and that nothing but water vapor comes from the exhaust is particularly appreciated in the air spa town of Niebüll.
But it is not only for the environment that the hydrogen bus with zero-emission drive offers advantages. It also offers passengers a very spacious interior and ergonomic seats. Safety technology is also state-of-the-art: in the event of a collision, the hydrogen supply from the tank is immediately stopped thanks to accident and leakage sensors.
GP JOULE hands over environmentally friendly hydrogen buses to DB subsidiary Autokraft, May 19, 2021
