Caetano hydrogen bus trialled in Dublin

Hydrogen Mobility Ireland (HMI) has carried out a three week, in-service trial of a Caetano H2.CityGold hydrogen fuel-cell-powered bus in the Dublin area.

The Hydrogen Mobility Ireland project is a partnership of businesses from across many sectors, together with public sector and academic stakeholders, aimed at delivering a coordinated approach to the introduction of this cutting-edge technology to ensure that Ireland can benefit from being an early starter in this environmental transport solution.

The H2.CityGold is the first ever hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) put into public service in Ireland. Since November the vehicle was operated on different routes by CIÉ Group bus companies, Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus, as well as by Dublin City University (DCU) and Dublin Airport, although carrying limited passengers’ due to current Covid restrictions. Covering a total of around 1,864 miles (3,000km), a hydrogen consumption of 5kg/100km based on actual operational conditions with passengers and heating was recorded. The Caetano H2.CityGold is powered by a Toyota fuel-cell stack and was refilled with hydrogen produced in Dublin by BOC Gases Ireland Ltd using renewable electricity and water.

Dublin Bus CEO, Ray Coyne, said: “I am delighted that Dublin Bus participated in Ireland’s first hydrogen bus trial. 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 in Dublin.”

Bus Éirean’s Stephen Kent, said: “Bus Éireann is Ireland’s national bus company. It was very exciting that our customers were amongst the first people in Ireland to travel by hydrogen during our three-week operation of the Caetano hydrogen fuel cell bus in November 2020. 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 vehicle makes them especially relevant given our mix of longer commuter, stage carriage and intercity services.” 

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