The Wiesbaden transport operator ESWE Verkehr has ordered ten Caetano H2.City Gold fuel cell buses. Delivery of the first vehicle is scheduled for the third quarter of 2021. The remaining vehicles will follow by the end of November 2021. These emission-free fuel cell buses are another essential element in the implementation of Wiesbaden's clean air plan.
The vehicles are funded by the JIVE (Joint Initiative for Hydrogen Vehicles across Europe) project within the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking framework. Additional funding is provided by the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Programme of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVi). The funding directive is coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by Project Management Jülich (PTJ).
“We are extremely pleased to have had the opportunity to supply our hydrogen buses to Wiesbaden, and to be able to be part of their zero-emission transport development process” said Patricia Vasconcelos, CEO at CaetanoBus.
Andreas Kowol, head of Wiesbaden's transport department, stated, "Everyone is talking about hydrogen technology. We are open to technology and rely on battery-electric and fuel cell buses in ESWE Verkehr's vehicle fleet. The new buses will bring us a great deal closer to our goals of making the city air cleaner and bus transport more climate-friendly and quieter".
The Managing Director of ESWE Verkehr, Jörg Gerhard, said, "Thanks to the funding, we are making great strides towards an emission-free conversion of our bus fleet and the associated infrastructure. The Federal Ministry subsidises our battery-electric buses for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. The hydrogen refuelling station built together with Mainzer Mobilität on ESWE Verkehr premises is finished and in operation. It was funded by the federal states of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. Our company is also transforming itself from a transport company to a modern and sustainable mobility service provider".
