Hydrogen Bus Pilot Launched in Asturias, Spain Region
The Asturias pilot demonstration of the hydrogen-powered bus started in March 2023, as part of Work Package 5 – Mobility use of Hydrogen.
This hydrogen bus pilot in the Asturias region of Spain, conducted by Hy2Market partner ALSA, represents a significant step in developing and testing hydrogen mobility solutions in a real-life context. As part of this initiative, ALSA has invested in a state-of-the-art Solaris Urbino 12M H2 (FCEV) demo bus, which is currently being tested across various routes operated by ALSA in close coordination with local authorities and together with a TOYOTA-CAETANO 12M H2 (FCEV) unit operating in the same operation.
The hydrogen bus is operating on real routes, covering an estimated 200-300 kilometers daily over a period of 36 months. This extensive testing period aims to evaluate the bus’s behavior, performance, fuel consumption, and availability in comparison to existing diesel, diesel-hybrid, and battery electric vehicles (BEV). The pilot also assesses the associated hydrogen infrastructure and refueling times, providing valuable insights for future implementations.
Key operational data provided by ALSA highlights the bus’s performance since its delivery and commencement in March 2023. The hydrogen bus, a Solaris Urbino 12M H2 (FCEV), has been running daily on a commercial route with an estimated annual mileage of 30,000 kilometers. Multiple drivers, trained specifically for this operation, are involved in the daily driving of the bus. Daily refuelling of green hydrogen takes place at the only hydrogen refueling station (HRS) located in Torrejón de Ardoz, supplied by the Exolum H2 production plant–Fusion Fuel solution.
In addition to driver training, technicians have been trained, and necessary adaptations have been made to the depot and workshop to support the new technology. The daily operations are closely monitored, and data is being collected to compare the hydrogen bus’s performance with other technologies, including Diesel, Hybrid, and BEV. A second FCEV unit is also part of this comparative analysis.
Each pilot region involved in the Hy2Market project will develop a comprehensive regional performance report detailing the main results, learnings, potential constraints, and identified improvements. These reports will be consolidated into a final report on the Demonstration Actions, which will encapsulate the overall findings of the hydrogen bus pilot.