Free test drives: Hydrogen bus conquers Vienna lines

Free test drives: Hydrogen bus conquers Vienna lines

The Viennese lines have started to start the first test phase with a hydrogen bus. From Monday, October 21st to the end of November, passengers can ride on various lines with the emission -free vehicle from the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai. This test is part of a comprehensive plan to gradually switch the Viennese lines bus fleet to more environmentally friendly drive technologies.

In regular travel costs, the hydrogen bus will be on the lines 36a, 36b, 88b, 38a, 28a, 32a and 29a. The aim is to offer a sustainable alternative to conventional bus companies without affecting the quality and availability of existing public transport. "The quality of the offer for our passengers has a top priority," said public councilor Peter Hanke (SPÖ) in a statement.

technical aspects of the hydrogen bus

The hydrogen bus is driven by two 90 kW fuel cells that generate electrical current for an electric motor with 180 kW. This ensures high performance in particular on gradients and at frequent stops. The bus is refueled in the Leopoldau bus garage at a special petrol station, and the complete refueling only takes about twelve minutes.

"Our vehicles must meet strict requirements, regardless of the drive technology used. Our lines often have steep climbs and dense passenger changes," said Gudrun Senk, Managing Director of the Viennese lines. This requires comprehensive tests to ensure that the new technologies can withstand the stress in everyday life.

future developments

Another step towards a more environmentally friendly bus fleet is that from mid -2025 the first ten hydrogen buses should be regular on line 39a. In addition, an innovative battery hydrogen minibus will be put into operation in the coming year in Vienna's city center, which will also drive on lines 2a and 3a. Further test drives with hydrogen buses from other manufacturers are also being planned.

The test drives offer passengers a unique opportunity to experience emission -free mobility up close. The exact travel times of the test drives are from around 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. The bus lines are at a glance:

• 36a, 36b: from Monday, October 21
• 88b: from Monday, October 28th
• 38a: from Monday, November 4th
• 28a: from Monday, November 11th
• 32a: from Monday, November 18
• 29a: from Monday, November 25th

The Viennese lines see the use of hydrogen technologies on the way to a more sustainable and efficient traffic routing in order to combine the demands on mobility and environmental protection. Interested passengers can visit the Viennese lines website for further information on these test drives and lines.