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Sustainability of mobility and infrastructure

Hydrogen buses and hydrogen filling stations

Qbuzz has 30 hydrogen buses operational, of which 20 in Groningen and 10 in Drenthe/Emmen. The use of hydrogen buses also involves a hydrogen filling station, where green hydrogen is refuelled in the buses as Nouryon's residual product.

This hydrogen bus is actually a hydrogen electric bus. The difference with a battery electric bus is that the hydrogen electric bus does not have a large battery pack, but generates electricity on board by means of a hydrogen fuel cell.

These hydrogen buses are used in the regular timetable, where a hydrogen electric bus has the advantage that it usually has a greater range than a battery electric bus.

The deployment proves successful and has therefore also opened the door for further expansion: since December 2020 on, twenty hydrogen buses are operational from the parking facility at Peizerweg in Groningen. Shell has built a hydrogen filling station on the site of this parking facility, which again uses green hydrogen.

Sustainability long distance

There is also full commitment into making the long-distance buses, the Qliners, more sustainable. Due to the high number of kilometers these buses drive daily (600 – 1000 km), Qbuzz sees an application for hydrogen for these buses. In short, a lot of development in the field of hydrogen-powered buses.

At the moment there is also a request for the delivery of 100 km/h hydrogen-powered coaches ex-works. For this we’re applying for a subsidy with a number of partners in Europe. If assigned, implementation will take place in Groningen-Drenthe in 2024/2025.