The Caetano H2.CityGold demonstration that started in November has come to an end with an excellent feedback from the different parties involved
Hydrogen Mobility Ireland (HMI), managed a multi week, in-service, trial of Caetano H2.CityGold in the Dublin area. The Hydrogen Mobility Ireland 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 Covid’s current restrictions. Covering a total of 3000 kilometres (around 1864 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.
“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.” said Kohei Umeno, Chief Commercial Officer at CaetanoBus.
“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.
“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,” said Stephen Kent, Bus Éireann.
“We in Toyota Ireland are delighted to have been part of the Toyota-powered hydrogen fuel cell bus trial. The results are hugely positive and it shows the viability of hydrogen fuel cell technology, and how it can bring Ireland to the forefront of zero emissions transport. We at Toyota have been investing in hydrogen fuel cell technology since 1993 and are proud to say that Toyota Motor Europe has recently further strengthened our alliance with CaetanoBus. We look forward to continuing to develop hydrogen fuel cell to realise our vision of zero emissions driving for the future.” said Steve Tormey, Chief Executive of Toyota Ireland.
“Dublin City University (DCU) aims to transform lives & societies and our involvement with this trial demonstrates that we are at the forefront of research, development and deployment of clean technologies. Our partners will learn so much about how to implement green hydrogen into transport to reduce emissions, but also how hydrogen can be produced sustainably by the integration of renewable energy in Ireland”, Dr James Carton Assistant Professor Energy Sustainability, Dublin City University (DCU), Ireland.
