A fuel cell hybrid midibus completed five successful days and 405 kilometres ferrying passengers, without so much as a glitch at the world's largest industrial fair.

Hydrogenics Corporation, responsible for the project, is a leading manufacturer of hydrogen and fuel hybrid vehicles and pioneered the HyPMA power-train for this particular midibus to demonstrate in Hannover, Germany.

The bus used 10.1 kilograms of hydrogen and carried more than 800 people over the five day period.

Using lead-acid batteries, the bus can manage 60 to 80 kilometres without refuelling. Yet with its hydrogen technology, the bus can travel 200 kilometres on one fill.

Pierre Rivard, president and chief executive of Hydrogenics, expressed his delight at the successful demonstration and said: "Europe is a very important regional market for Hydrogenics and we are fully aware of the importance of offering local integration expertise to customers as they advance their own fuel cell activities.

"In this way, Hydrogenics presents a unique and strategic pathway to initially enable and accelerate commercialisation of this compelling new technology," he added.

The midibus is expected to shuttle visitors between World Cup games this summer and the hydrogen hybrid design is specifically pioneered to give particular urban-driving efficiency, as well as significantly lower emissions.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd