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Zurich Government Council Adds Hydrogen Vehicles to its Fleet

By October 9, 2019 3   min read  (405 words)

October 9, 2019 |

Zurich Hydrogen Cars 1

The canton of Zurich relies on electric vehicles and now also on hydrogen cars in its vehicle fleet. Security Director Mario Fehr today unveiled the first of a total of two new official vehicles of the Government Council, a hydrogen-powered Hyundai Nexo, at the Road Traffic Office.

This replaces older gasoline and diesel cars. The cantonal police and the traffic department consistently promote climate-friendly vehicles. At the Zurich-Albisgütli Road Traffic Office, a hydrogen refueling station and several electro-quick charging stations are also to be built.

With more than 600 passenger cars, the cantonal police has the largest fleet within the cantonal administration. For several years, she has been paying attention to reducing CO 2 emissions and promoting new propulsion technologies by buying new vehicles and training policewomen and policemen . It now has 46 hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, 23 biogas vehicles and 8 electric vehicles. This means that nearly 13 percent of the canton police passenger car fleet has new types of power – compared to 3.5 percent of all passenger cars in the canton of Zurich.

Zurich Hydrogen Cars 3

Councilor Mario Fehr, head of the Security Directorate, with the new hydrogen-powered Hyundai Nexo of the Zurich government. (Photo: Melanie Duchene)

A pioneer in climate-friendly mobility
25 percent is at the vehicle park of the road traffic department. This includes the car operation for the cantonal administration. Of the total of 40 vehicles, 7 are fully electric and one is a plug-in hybrid. Two Hyundai Nexo hydrogen-powered Hyundai Nexo engines are now being added for the commissions of the governing councils; These replace older gasoline and diesel powered models.

Governing Councilor Mario Fehr commented on the fleet strategy of the Security Directorate, which includes the cantonal police and the Road Traffic Office, to the media today: “We are leading by example. In this way, we help to develop new technologies and anchor them in the canton of Zurich ».

Contribution to the charging infrastructure in the canton
Part of this strategy is also that the Road Traffic Office in Zurich-Albisgütli will have a publicly accessible hydrogen refueling station and several electric fast charging stations. The Road Traffic Office has started the project. Until now, there is only one hydrogen filling station in the canton – at the research institute Empa in Dübendorf. “Good charging infrastructure is one of the keys to getting electric and hydrogen vehicles to work,” said Peter Kyburz, Road Traffic Manager.

 

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