FlixBus with a powerful fuel cell system is coming in 2024

by

FlixBus with a powerful fuel cell system is coming in 2024-fuel

FlixBus and Freudenberg Sealing Technologies are working together on a future project for sustainable, CO2-free mobility. Together they want to develop the first long-distance bus with a fuel cell drive. The first steps have been taken since 2019, and they are now getting reinforcements from ZF Friedrichshafen AG. By 2024, they want to jointly develop a powerful fuel cell system.

This is intended to completely replace conventional diesel drives. In addition, the hybridization of the electric drive train with fuel cells and batteries is being investigated. Because a practical solution for the completely climate-neutral operation of long-distance bus fleets in regular service has not yet been found. This is mainly due to the demanding operation of long-distance bus transport: buses are often in use day and night, more than 100.000 km a year are not uncommon and longer intermediate stops are more the exception.

Alone through the last point, a purely battery electrical FlixBus does not pay. Which was probably with a reason that Flixbus has stopped a corresponding project shortly after his start. Now you want to dedicate yourself to a hydrogen fuel cell bus, which is combined with an electric drive and a complementary battery storage to a hybrid drive train. Such a drive solution should now be explored in a conveying project for fuel cell technology. In addition to the three companies, a large European bus manufacturer is also involved.

The aim of the site of Freudenberg’s “Technology’s durability as well as the efficiency of technology is decisively developing and thus setting standards for Total Cost of Ownership”. So the statement of Claus MOhlenkamp, chairman of the management of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies. I was able to exchange views on this way of thinking with him in the past.

“ZF’s broad technology portfolio and knowledge of the electrified powertrain and the associated systems are already making it easier for vehicle manufacturers to get started with e-mobility. In the future, the fuel cell will play an important role in e-mobility for heavy commercial vehicles due to its range and fast refueling times. We have always pursued electrification in a technology-neutral manner – the fuel cell has also played an important role for us as a drive solution right from the start.“ – Wilhelm Rehm, Member of the ZF Board of Management

In a first phase of the joint HyFleet project, the focus will be on the technical performance of the fuel cell. This includes, among other things, optimizing the continuous operation behavior of the fuel cell system to a minimum operating time of 35.000 hours. The aim here is to control the degradation mechanisms and thus maximize the efficiency of the system over its entire service life. Fleet consumers ultimately benefit from low fuel consumption. The partner FlixBus brings the perspective of a global mobility provider to the project. FlixMobility makes a decisive contribution to the green mobility revolution through the constant further development of alternative drives and sustainable travel alternatives.

Even if HyFleet concentrates on coach fleets, the project partners attach great importance to the fact that the results achieved can be transferred to all heavy-duty segments, in particular to freight transport with heavy trucks. Coaches could also play a pioneering role in the fast transition to hydrogen mobility from the point of view of Freudenberg: because thanks to the long-distance buses, the gas station infrastructure arising along the most busy highways would reliably utilize.

Related articles

Please follow and like us:
error
fb-share-icon
Tweet
fb-share-icon

2 thoughts on “FlixBus with a powerful fuel cell system is coming in 2024”

  1. Great thing, this is very likely the right way for coaches.

    Hyzon Motors have just presented their H2 coach in Australia. Apparently you already have a first order and recently an Australian bus operator announced that it wants to convert all coaches to hydrogen starting in 2022.
    The market thus appears to be interested in hydrogen coaches.

    Max Range.: 700 km with H2 at 350 bar

    Video presentation: Hyzon launches Australia’s first hydrogen coach – Hyzon Motors

    Emerald Bus Company In Central Queensland Moves From Diesel To Hydrogen (fuelcellsworks.com)

    Reply

  2. Of course, the old energy suppliers are also rebuilding, like this one: https://www.hydrogen fuel news.com/hydrogen-fuel-uae/8549363/?mc_cid=bc036cee42&mc_eid=ed82e1f70e
    Of course, the energy supply of the world also needs international standards and utility stability.
    The pattern was well known. Petroleum products are found around the globe in remote places. ELECTRICITY? Electricity yes, but what kind of electricity? Here the chaos begins at the provincial level and the distribution specifically for traffic? So far, there is not even a charging network, but there are dozens of standards. This should become long-distance networks? With GREEN ELECTRICITY? across borders? The chickens are laughing.

    Reply

Leave a Comment