HyMove unveils hydrogen bus

The hydrogen-electric bus for the HyMove project was officially unveiled in the automotive technology building of the HAN University of Applied Sciences on 28 May. It will be used in the normal timetable from 2011.

The bus – with its striking colour scheme – will be used during regional events in the rest of the year as a mobile showpiece for the HyMove project. It has a fuel cell system that produces electricity while the bus is running. The bus is almost noiseless and its emissions consist only of water, which makes it exceptionally environmentally friendly. The HyMove bus is the first visible part of the project, which as well as the bus consists of the first public hydrogen filling station in the Netherlands and a number of other hydrogen-powered vehicles.

The unveiling of the hydrogen-powered bus was also the official starting signal for the HyMove project. The aim of the project is to gain experience of running on hydrogen. The parties taking the initiative, which include the Province of Gelderland, the Arnhem-Nijmegen Urban Region and the Municipality of Arnhem, regard running on hydrogen as a highly promising way of reducing the emission of CO2 and other exhaust gases and so improve the living climate in the region.

The hydrogen bus is playing an important part in the project because public transport is an excellent environment in which to gain experience with new technology. Furthermore, many people come into contact with public transport and the bus is a real eye-catcher. The side of the bus bears a picture of a large bottle of water, which is a symbol of the bus's clean emissions. The technology the bus uses is also special. It has two electrically-driven rear wheels, invented by the e-Traction company in Apeldoorn. A fuel cell system supplied by the NedStack company in Arnhem is installed in the back of the bus. This fuel cell converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity. The bus roof carries hydrogen tanks and a battery package, which allow the vehicle to run for some 200 kilometres.

It will refuel at the hydrogen dispenser at the VéBé van Steijn filling station in Arnhem, the first public hydrogen filling station in the Netherlands.