Hydrogen Mobility Ireland (HMI) has undertaken a multi week, in-service trial of a Caetano H2.CityGold in the Dublin area. The HMI project is a partnership of businesses from across many sectors, together with public sector and academic stakeholders, with all-island cooperation, joining together to deliver a coordinated approach to the introduction of this cutting-edge technology to ensure that Ireland can benefit from being an early starter in this environmental transport solution.
The H2.CityGold, powered by a Toyota fuel cell stack, was the first ever Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) put into public service operation on the island of Ireland giving real in-use information about the potential for large scale introduction of this technology in Ireland, in everyday driving conditions and at a challenging time of the year in terms of weather.
Since November the vehicle was operated in different routes by CIÉ Group bus companies Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus as well as by Dublin City University (DCU) and Dublin Airport, although carrying limited passengers due to current restrictions. Covering a total of 3,000 kilometres (around 1,864 miles) with a hydrogen consumption 5kg/100km based on actual operational conditions with passengers and heating, the Caetano H2.CityGold was refilled with green hydrogen (H2) produced in Dublin by BOC Gases Ireland Ltd using renewable electricity and water.
Kohei Umeno, Chief Commercial Officer at CaetanoBus said: “CaetanoBus was very honoured to support Ireland’s first hydrogen fuel cell bus trial with its H2.CityGold. Being part of this project, showing the capability of our hydrogen bus solution in real operation and supporting Ireland, is a significant step to prove that our H2.CityGold will be the solution to achieve decarbonisation without any compromise of bus service and passenger comfort.”
Ray Coyne, Dublin Bus CEO said: “I am delighted that Dublin Bus participated in Ireland’s first hydrogen bus trial. This trial will give Dublin Bus valuable insights into an important carbon cutting technology. Hydrogen will play a really important role in the journey towards an even more low emission public transport fleet in Dublin,” said Ray Coyne, Dublin Bus CEO.
Stephen Kent of Bus Éireann said: “Bus Éireann is Ireland’s national bus company. It was very exciting that our customers were amongst the first people in Ireland to travel by hydrogen during our three-week operation of the Caetano hydrogen fuel cell bus in November 2020. Driver and customer feedback was very positive and we gained important experience ahead of our deployment of three hydrogen vehicles in 2021. Bus Éireann is targeting half our vehicles to be zero emission by 2030 and the additional range offered by hydrogen fuel cell vehicle makes them especially relevant given our mix of longer commuter, stage carriage and intercity services.”
