Hyundai Motor’s Elec City fuel cell bus begins trial in Germany

Hyundai Motor Company is working with bus operators in Germany to run in-service trials of its hydrogen-powered Elec City fuel cell bus as the company explores opportunities to introduce the zero-emission bus to European markets.

Last week, at the OMV Hydrogen Refueling Station in Bavaria, Hyundai handed over a test bus to Busbetrieb Josef Ettenhuber GmbH (Ettenhuber) and Geldhauser Linien- und Reiseverkehr GmbH & Co. KG (Geldhauser).

The two bus operators will take turns running the Elec City Fuel Cell bus, which can can travel over 500km when fully charged, on existing routes in Munich, carrying actual passengers.

Hyundai Motor plans to run tests with four more bus operators this year, collecting passenger and driver feedback along the way. Through the demonstration runs, the company expects to prove hydrogen-powered buses as a viable, efficient solution for commercial transportation. Elec City Fuel Cell has been commercially available in Korea since 2019 where a total of 108 units are operational.

The hydrogen-powered buses being used in various public bus routes in the country have avoided reduced carbon emissions by an estimated 7,700 tons to date compared to internal combustion buses.

On a yearly basis, Elec City Fuel Cell buses that are currently in operation are expected to reduce carbon emissions by the equivalent amount of CO₂ sequestered in a year by 1,500 hectares of forest.

Martin Zeilinger, executive vice president and head of CV development tech unit, said: “With our leading fuel-cell technology, Hyundai Motor is demonstrating how mass-produced Elec City Fuel Cell buses can help reduce CO₂ emissions while providing clean mobility.

“Running these in-service trials will help us further develop our vehicles to meet European customer requirements.”

Hyundai’s Elec City bus is equipped with a 180kW high-capacity hydrogen fuel cell system, which consists of two 90kW hydrogen fuel cells, equipped with a durable hydrogen diffusion layer and an electrolyte membrane.

The maximum output of 180kW provides plenty of driving force, even in hilly road conditions. There are five hydrogen tanks in the roof, storing a total of 34kg of hydrogen for over 500km of range.

Hyundai is constantly reviewing ways to lower the CO₂ footprint of mobility in general. By offering eco-friendly, heavy-duty trucks and buses, the company is addressing this matter head on. Hyundai plans to proactively promote hydrogen fuel cell technology as a powerful mobility solution.