TMB-CaetanoBus, the hydrogen bus contract has been signed. 8 vehicles headed to Barcelona

TMB Barcelona and CaetanoBus yesterday signed a contract for the supply of eight hydrogen-powered buses, with which allow Barcelona to position itself as a benchmark in the application of this zero-emission technology in the regular passenger transport of an urban network in Spain. The contract was awarded in late September, and the vehicles will land in Barcelona in November 2021 and are expected to enter service in early 2022.

The contract was signed by the Managing Director of TMB, Gerardo Lertxundi, together with the Director of the Bus Network, Jacobo Kalitovics; and by Caetano Bus, Patrícia Vasconcelos, Managing Director, and Gisela Passos, Director of Finance.

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CaetanoBus and TMB Barcelona

The acquisition of the eight fuel cell electric vehicles is part of TMB’s strategic option to promote the use of green gases (hydrogen of renewable origin, biogas) in the modernization of the bus fleet in line with the goal of reducing emissions and decarbonizing public transport.

Unveiled at Busworld 2019, the CaetanoBus H2.City Gold is available in 10.7 or 12 meter version, LHD and RHD variants. Hydrogen tanks and the fuel cell stack are stored on the vehicle’s roof, to optimize the interior space.

The eight buses purchased by TMB will be of the H2 City Gold LHD model, 12 metres long, with an aluminium struture with three doors. Its technological core will be the fuel cell module, from the Japanese firm Toyota, with a nominal power of 60 kilowatts. The motor, with a maximum power of 180 KW, and the electronics will be provided by Siemens. The batteries, based on LTO technology and with 44 kWh capacity, will store also the energy generated by the braking, up to 50%.

The purchase of the eight hydrogen vehicles is supported by the European JIVE 2 programme for the promotion of fuel cell and zero emission vehicles, co-financed by the European Union, in which TMB is participating as the only Spanish operator. The project is promoted with the collaboration of the Barcelona Metropolitan Transport Authority (ATM).

Hydrogen filling station to be built

The manufacturer estimates for the H2 City Gold LHD a consumption of less than 9 kilos of hydrogen every 100 kilometres and a minimum range of 400 kilometres with the tanks of 37.5 kilos at full capacity. They will land in Barcelona in November 2021 and are expected to enter service in early 2022.

The vehicles will be assigned to the Zona Franca Operational Business Centre and will be supplied with hydrogen for vehicles at the filling plant to be built on the same industrial estate as a result of the agreement signed by TMB and the Zona Franca Consortium last June. The plant, the first in Spain with a public vocation, will supply around 160 kilos of hydrogen of renewable origin per day to TMB’s eight vehicles and will also provide services to other companies in the area and to private individuals. The construction of the plant is currently in the tendering phase.