Hyundai Elec City Fuel Cell Bus starts trials in Germany

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company will work with two German bus operators to run in-service trials of its hydrogen-powered Elec City Fuel Cell bus in Munich, Germany.

Hyundai is exploring opportunities to introduce the zero-emission bus to European markets. Hyundai provided the test bus to Busbetrieb Josef Ettenhuber GmbH and Geldhauser Linien- und Reiseverkehr GmbH & Co. KG. The fuel cell buses will run on existing routes in Munich, carrying actual passengers, travelling over 500 km when fully charged. Hyundai also plans to partner with four more bus operators this year to gather passenger and driver feedback about the hydrogen-powered buses.

Elec City Fuel Cell has been commercially available in South Korea since 2019, and a total of 108 buses are in operation.

Hyundai’s Elec City bus is equipped with a 180-kW high-capacity hydrogen fuel cell system, consisting of two 90-kW hydrogen fuel cells, fitted with a durable hydrogen diffusion layer and an electrolyte membrane. The bus is also equipped with five hydrogen tanks in the roof, storing 34 kg of hydrogen for over 500 km of range.

Martin Zeilinger, Executive Vice President, said, “With our leading fuel cell technology, Hyundai Motor is demonstrating how mass-produced Elec City Fuel Cell buses can help reduce CO2 emissions while providing clean mobility.”