The federal government is promoting hydrogen-fueled buses in the Rostock region | NDR.de – News

by Axel Krummenauer, Radio NDR 1 MV

The first fuel cell buses could pass through the Rostock region at the end of next year. Rebus Regionalbus Rostock GmbH intends to purchase a total of 52 buses of this type. In addition, two hydrogen filling stations will be built. Hydrogen is essential for generating electricity along with oxygen in fuel cells, which drives electric motors. Nienkirk, managing director of Repos, told NDR 1 radio that the tenders for gas stations and buses would be published in the coming weeks. Fuel cell bus delivery dates are currently up to 14 months.

Hydrogen filling station in Güstrow

Rebus plans to build the first hydrogen filling station at the warehouse in Güstrow. The first 16 fuel cell buses will also be located there. Later, another gas station and more buses will be added on site in Bad Doberan. The federal government finances the construction of gas stations with 2.75 million euros. For the purchase of fuel cell buses, the federal government subsidizes the additional costs compared to similar diesel buses at 15.5 million euros. This means that the province of Rostock will also have to spend about 20 million euros on the purchase of new buses over the next four years.

Last year’s test

In May 2021, Rebus tested the use of hydrogen-powered buses. At that time, a Polish factory introduced the technology in Güstrow. Drivers and passengers have noticed that fuel cell buses accelerate faster than conventional buses. However, at least 650 thousand euros each, they cost much more than diesel buses. So the purchase was realistic only with appropriate funding from the federal government. However, Rebus, a wholly owned company of Rostock County, had to contribute 10 percent of the financing. Therefore, the Rostock County Council promised at its meeting on April 27 that it would save about 1.8 million euros.

The latest diesel buses have been delivered

Rebus has now secured funding approval from the Federal Ministry of Transport, which has granted funding to a total of 41 transport companies in Germany. According to the ministry, there are only about 70 fuel cell buses in Germany – mainly in Hamburg, Cologne and Wuppertal. So far, Rebus is the only municipal transportation company in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to rely on fuel cell technology. Transport company Greifswald has been running its fleet of buses almost exclusively with biomethane for years. Rostocker Strassenbahn AG is aiming for a similar development. The last six diesel buses have been delivered there in the past few days. In the future, RSAG will rely on electric buses or bio-methane as fuel, according to a company spokesperson.

Others rely on electric batteries

While Rebus has ruled out the use of battery-powered electric buses for its network, the Mecklenburg Lake District has come to the opposite conclusion. A study was conducted there with the Fraunhofer Institute. Interim result one: Mecklenburg-Vorpommersche Verkehrsgesellschaft wants to rely on battery electric buses in the future. Grahn, managing director of MVVG, said an application has been submitted for funding from the federal Department of Transportation.