Deutsche Bahn is pushing ahead with the conversion to a climate-neutral company and ordering a larger number of hydrogen buses for its bus division DB Regio Bus for the first time. The first vehicles are to run in Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein in early 2024.
Behind the order is DB’s clear goal of phasing out the last diesel bus in 2038. In just seven years’ time, all newly procured buses are to be operated without emissions. With around 470 million passengers per year, DB Regio Bus is the largest provider of bus transport in Germany.
Evelyn Palla, Member of the Management Board of Regional Transport DB AG stressed that “Hydrogen buses are climate-friendly on the road and have another advantage: they are filled up faster than the batteries of a purely electric bus are charged. With their long range, hydrogen buses are particularly well suited to replace diesel vehicles in rural areas. With the order of 60 hydrogen buses, we are taking another step towards saying goodbye to diesel.”
The buses will be supplied by the Portuguese manufacturer Caetanobus and the fuel cells by Toyota. The framework agreement now agreed runs until 2026 and assumes 60 buses. The order volume for these vehicles is almost 40 million euros. Five of the new vehicles will be used in the Jever area, two in Rendsburg-Eckernförde.
The new buses of the type “H2 CityGold” are twelve metres long and have 34 seats and 47 standing places. The passenger compartment has no steps and offers a two-metre-wide space for wheelchairs. The vehicles can travel between 350 (winter) and 550 (summer) kilometres on one tank of hydrogen. Numerous electronic safety systems are installed in the buses, which, for example, warn of a possible collision with pedestrians or other road users.
Two predecessor versions of the buses now on order are already in operation at the DB subsidiary Autokraft as part of the hydrogen pioneer project eFarm in the Nordfriesland district. They refuel with hydrogen produced regionally by eFarm at filling stations in Husum and Niebüll and bring 100 percent emission-free mobility to the road. DB Regio Bus implements and plans more than 40 transport services and projects with climate-friendly drives, including battery buses, at more than 35 locations.
Deutsche Bahn Commits to Climate-Neutral Future with Order of 60 Hydrogen Buses
Deutsche Bahn (DB) is continuing its transition towards becoming a climate-neutral company by increasing its procurement of hydrogen buses for its bus division, DB Regio Bus, for the first time. The new buses are expected to begin operating in Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein in early 2024, with the aim of phasing out the last diesel bus by 2038. DB Regio Bus is currently the largest provider of bus transport in Germany, serving around 470 million passengers annually.
The order of 60 hydrogen buses, supplied by Portuguese manufacturer Caetanobus and fuel cells from Toyota, is part of DB’s commitment to ensure all newly acquired buses are emissions-free by 2031. The new buses, which cost almost €40 million, will have a range of between 350 and 550 kilometers on one tank of hydrogen, making them particularly well-suited to replace diesel vehicles in rural areas. The “H2 CityGold” buses will be 12 meters long and have 34 seats, 47 standing places, and a two-meter-wide space for wheelchairs. They also include numerous electronic safety systems that can alert drivers to potential collisions with pedestrians or other road users.
Evelyn Palla, Member of the Management Board of Regional Transport DB AG, stated, “Hydrogen buses are climate-friendly and have the advantage of being filled up faster than purely electric buses. With their long range, they are particularly suitable for replacing diesel vehicles in rural areas.”
DB Regio Bus has already implemented over 40 transport services and climate-friendly projects, including battery buses, in more than 35 locations. The new buses are part of a framework agreement that runs until 2026, and the five new vehicles will be used in the Jever area, while two will be used in Rendsburg-Eckernförde.
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It’s worth noting that the buses are a part of a larger effort by DB to decrease their carbon footprint, and they’re committed to more sustainable transportation options. The predecessor versions of the new buses have already been in operation at the DB subsidiary Autokraft as part of the hydrogen pioneer project eFarm in the Nordfriesland district. These buses refuel with locally produced hydrogen at filling stations in Husum and Niebüll, providing 100 percent emission-free mobility.
