The refining and petrochemical ORLEN Unipetrol Group is continuing its collaboration with the municipalities of Most and Litvínov in the next phase of the pilot operation of a hydrogen-powered bus developed by the Slovak company Mobility & Innovation Production s.r.o. “After a successful pilot operation and summer testing of the hydrogen-powered bus for the Most District, we are entering the next phase of the pilot operation,” said Daniel Dunovský, director of the Most and Litvínov Public Transit Authority, and added: “The hydrogen-powered bus will be deployed again on selected routes in the municipalities of Most and Litvínov from Monday, 5 February, to Sunday, 11 February. We expect the summer success to repeat during the winter testing. After its completion, we will issue a recommendation concerning the possible inclusion of these buses in our fleet.”
The municipalities of Most and Litvínov, together with ORLEN Unipetrol and other entities, are active members of the hydrogen platform in the Ústí Region. Both towns are among the pioneers of hydrogen-powered mobility in mass transit. “We consider hydrogen a key instrument in achieving our decarbonisation targets. By opening a hydrogen filling station, ORLEN Unipetrol allowed us to expand clean, emission-free mobility in our region,” said Marek Hrvol, mayor of the town of Most.
“For our town, this opportunity represents a welcome step forward in developing low-emission and zero-emission mobility in public transportation,” said Kamila Bláhová, mayor of the municipality of Litvínov, adding: “Testing the hydrogen-powered bus has two phases. After the successful summer testing, we are now realising trial operation in the winter months.”
In the test operation of the hydrogen-powered bus, both towns are closely collaborating with the ORLEN Unipetrol Group, which brokered the bus for this pilot project and provided financial support. “We are trying to contribute responsibly to the development of a technology that will soon have an important position in the energy mix to achieve the objectives of clean mobility and decarbonisation that are part of the emission-free development of the European Union and the Czech Republic,” explained Tomáš Herink, a member of the ORLEN Unipetrol’s board of directors, who continued: “Hydrogen technology is an ideal complement to battery-powered electric mobility in supporting the development of low-emission and zero-emission personal, mass and cargo transportation, both by road and by rail.”
The low-floor electric bus with hydrogen fuel cells was developed by the Slovak company Mobility & Innovation Production s.r.o. It has a total length of 7,982 mm, a width of 2,550 mm, and a height of 2,940 mm. Its maximum capacity is up to 68 passengers, with 20 seated. The fully air-conditioned bus has a range of up to 350 km under hydrogen power and an additional 100 km under battery power. The bus is driven by a Siemens Elfa electric motor with a total output of 125 kW and torque of 1,019 Nm. The electric motor is supplied with power from two batteries with a total capacity of 70 kWh. The total capacity of its four hydrogen tanks is 10.5 kg and filling them takes ten minutes.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on crude oil processing and the production, distribution and sale of vehicle fuels and petrochemical products – particularly plastics and fertilisers. It belongs among the key players on the Czech and Central European markets in all these areas. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group encompasses refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice, REMAQ in Otrokovice, and two research centres in Litvínov and Brno. ORLEN Unipetrol also includes the ORLEN Benzina network of petrol stations in the Czech Republic and the ORLEN network in Slovakia and Hungary. ORLEN Unipetrol is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic in terms of turnover. It employs almost 6,000 people. ORLEN Unipetrol is also a socially responsible company, particularly in the areas of supporting sustainable development, education, local communities and the environment. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the ORLEN Group, the largest oil refiner in Central Europe.
The network of ORLEN filling stations is part of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group, a member of the international ORLEN Group. It operates the largest chain of filling stations in the Czech Republic. In addition to Efecta fuels with a purifying effect, ORLEN offers top-quality Verva fuels that also provide maximum performance parameters. The ORLEN network of filling stations also offers alternative drives, including liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG). ORLEN also has the largest network of charging points for electric vehicles. It operates two hydrogen filling stations in Prague-Barrandov and in Litvínov. ORLEN also offers a broad refreshment portfolio within its Stop Café concept. The network issues its EASY and BUSINESS fuel cards and offers customers two mobile applications – the ORLEN loyalty app and the car care application, Mycí digi linka. In total, ORLEN operates 434 petrol stations in the Czech Republic and has a market share of 25.7%. Consumer confidence was confirmed by the network of ORLEN filling stations being six times awarded the title of the Most Trusted Brand in the Czech Republic.
Read the most up to date Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Industry news at FuelCellsWorks
