CaetanoBus has delivered EMT Madrid’s first 10 electric hydrogen-powered buses

CaetanoBus has delivered EMT Madrid‘s first 10 electric hydrogen-powered buses in late December. The buses were presented as ready to start operations in the Spanish capital.

CaetanoBus states it has sold over 200 fuel cell buses so far to various European cities in Europe, mainly in Germany, Spain, France, Portugal and Italy and “very soon in Austria”. The OEM claimed having a 32% market share in the European hydrogen bus market in the first half of 2023.

EMT Madrid’s target is to have in 2030 the whole fleet running on zero emission.

CaetanoBus fuel cell buses for Madrid

The 10 models of Caetano H2.City Gold will operate on route 145. The model, equipped with the Toyota fuel cell module (as is the case of Mercedes eCitaro fuel cell) and co-branded with Toyota since 2021, is a 12m urban bus and offers a range of over 500km, manufacturer says.

CaetanoBus-made vehicles will be refuelled in “the first public green hydrogen infrastructure in a European capital capable to fill each bus’ hydrogen tank in less than 15 minutes with green hydrogen produced on site through a PEN electrolyser capable to produce 18 kg/h”, CaetanoBus states in a press note. These buses are reportedly able to stay in operation for 20h/day. 

Despite the questions regarding the hydrogen technology, hydrogen buses will continue to play an important role on longer journeys and an alternative to pure battery electric buses.

Nuno Lago de Carvalho, Chief Commercial Officer of CaetanoBus, highlights: “Spain is a key market for CaetanoBus, and we are very pleased to deliver more 10 units of our H2. City Gold to a very strategic and important public transport operator as EMT Madrid. Hydrogen mobility is key to decarbonize large bus fleets and is crucial for major European operators like EMT Madrid to combat climate change and meet the targets set by the European Commission “