Wiener Linien: Test the hydrogen bus for free from October 21st!

Wiener Linien: Test the hydrogen bus for free from October 21st!

Wiener Linien has decided to test a new form of bus propulsion in the city. From October 21st, a hydrogen bus from the Korean manufacturer Hyundai will be tested in passenger service. This takes place on various lines in Vienna and represents an important step towards emission-free public transport. The bus uses two 90 kW fuel cells and batteries with a total output of 2 x 40 kWh to generate the necessary electrical energy.

This hydrogen bus has an electric motor with an output of 180 kW, which makes it efficient even on demanding routes. It is refueled at the Wien Energie filling station, which is located in the Leopoldau garage. The refueling itself only takes about 12 minutes. Lines 28A, 29A, 32A, 36A and 36B will be affected during the test phase, offering passengers a unique opportunity to experience the technology up close.

Planned test drives and future use

These current test drives also serve as preparation for next year, when the first hydrogen buses are to be used in regular operation. From mid-2025, the first of a total of ten hydrogen buses from the manufacturer CaetanoBus are expected to be on route 39A. In addition, ten more innovative battery-hydrogen minibuses from the manufacturer Rampini are soon planned for downtown Vienna. These so-called range extenders are also to be integrated into the regular service.

The test bus is tested in different scenarios. On line 38A he will have to master steep climbs to Kahlenberg, while line 88B travels through the flat Seestadt. Passengers in Floridsdorf can also benefit from this technology, as the bus is used on lines 28A, 29A, 32A and in Jedlesee and Großjedlersdorf on lines 36A and 36B. The tests involve carrying many passengers, which provides valuable information about the performance of the vehicle and the drivers.

Passengers can rejoice: Riding on this test bus is free and no ticket is required. The planned trips are as follows:

• 36A, 36B: ab Montag, 21. Oktober
• 88B: ab Montag, 28. Oktober
• 38A: ab Montag, 4. November
• 28A: ab Montag, 11. November
• 32A: ab Montag, 18. November
• 29A: ab Montag, 25. November

The trips take place from around 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

This hydrogen bus is part of the “HyBus Implementation” research project, which ends in December this year. After the project is completed, the vehicle will continue to be available to Wiener Linien free of charge until a new test bus is provided.

City Councilor for Public Transport Peter Hanke explained: "When renewing the bus fleet, we make sure to maintain the quality of the service for passengers. We are therefore testing modern zero-emission drive technologies particularly intensively." In addition, Wiener Linien's managing director in the technical area, Gudrun Senk, emphasizes: "Our buses have to meet high standards, regardless of the drive technology. That's why we intensively test new materials so that they can meet the challenges of urban traffic." These test drives are not only an opportunity for innovation, but also an important step towards more sustainable mobility in the city, as the information from www.dfz21.at shows.