Daimler Buses has sent its first coach with hydrogen based fuel cell drive on test drives. The technology carrier 'H2 Coach' from the Setra brand paves the way for the future of locally emission free longer coach travel, in addition to battery electric coaches. Daimler Buses plans to have battery electric coaches in its portfolio by the end of the decade; with fuel-cell coaches set to go into series production in the next step.
Daimler Buses plans to have battery electric coaches in its portfolio by the end of the decade; with fuel-cell coaches set to go into series production in the next step. The technology of the H2 Coach is largely based on the drive components of the Mercedes Benz GenH2 Truck fuel cell truck from the Daimler Truck parent company. The range of the H2 Coach with a full tank is defined as a minimum of 800 km.
The heart of the 13.9 m long high decker with the model designation S 517 HD is a combination of two hydrogen tanks with a total tank capacity of 46 kg and the cellcentric fuel cell unit. Together with the Volvo Group, Daimler Truck is pursuing the objective of becoming a world-leading fuel cell manufacturer with the cellcentric joint venture and thus making a decisive contribution to sustainable transportation by 2050.
The fuel cell unit with a total output of 300 kW converts the hydrogen into electrical energy, which is converted into mechanical drive energy by the central motor. The electric motor is designed for a continuous output of 320 kW and a maximum output of 400 kW, with a torque of 1368 Nm and 2470 Nm respectively. The integrated battery pack serves to temporarily store the electrical energy and to provide situational power support in order to operate the fuel cell with optimum efficiency.
The S 517 HD converted into an H2 Coach with a permissible gross vehicle weight of 24.7 t has been approved as a test vehicle on the basis of the TÜV report, in accordance with Section 19.6 of the German Regulations Authorising the Use of Vehicles for Road Traffic, which, in addition to the test series on the internal testing grounds of Daimler Buses, also permits test drives on public roads.
With its zero-emission drive technology, the Setra ComfortClass concept bus represents a promising alternative to diesel-powered vehicles, as it not only has a low-noise drive system, but also contributes significantly to improving air quality in cities and holiday regions. Compared to battery electric buses, the coach is also characterised by a higher range and shorter refuelling times.
The technology carrier is being developed at Daimler Buses in Neu Ulm, Germany. The site is the competence centre for coaches of all drive types. A total of around 3800 employees work at Daimler Buses in Neu Ulm in central functions, development and bus production.