The new electric bus that “cleans” the atmosphere comes to Greece

A very special cleanses the air of the region in which it moves, and is expected to cross its borders at the end of May, having previously crossed through the Balkans. Romania and Bulgaria will first pass the electric bus that is to start running routes in Thessaloniki. The bus is expected to arrive in Greece late May. It will be silent and clean, to a certain extent, the air in the areas it passes through. Its fuel needs to react with the oxygen of the air, cleaned from the bus filters, to produce the energy that feeds it. It produces clean water, which will also be the only residue of its operation process. The reason for the hydrogen bus, which will come to Greece – specifically Kozani, Thessaloniki and Athens – as part of the European JIVE project, with the national coordinator the Cluster of the Western Macedonia Bioeconomics and Environment (CluBE). This is the third roadshow of JIVE’s hydrogen bus, to be implemented in cooperation with the consortium of the European TRIERES project (small-scale hydrogen valley), supported by Hellenic Hydrogen and Coral Gas companies and under the auspices of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. In view of the arrival of the bus, the RES-ABE discussed with Nicholas Davos, co-founder and manager of CluBE, not only for the project itself, but also for the conditions under which hydrogen buses could be routed to Greece in full operation in everyday life. As Mr Davos explains, the bus is expected to start from Romania around mid-April and arrive in Greece towards the end of May (the final implementation timetable will be finalised in the following period). “The most important benefit is that it uses green hydrogen and its technology does not include a classic internal combustion engine, but fuel cells on an electric bus. Furthermore, in relation to battery electric buses it provides greater autonomy, as well as direct refueling without requiring long battery charging time” it describes. Mobile quarter supply and autonomy 400 km The particular feature of the pilot project is that the bus will pass through countries that do not yet have installed hydrogen supply stations. That is why it will become a mobile supply. “The bus and certain hydrogen cars, which will also participate in the roadshow, will be refueled with a system consisting of a mobile hydrogen storage and transport trailer and a mobile supply system (dispenser panel). The trailer supply has been carried out by Motor Oil, as part of the European TRIERES project, which has begun the creation of a hydrogen valley, focusing on the company’s refinery in Corinth. The refueling of green hydrogen will take place in Austria and then the roadshow from Romania will start, lead to Bulgaria and end up in Greece,” he notes. The hydrogen bus consumes about nine to 10 kg of fuel per 100 km, so it is estimated that its autonomy is about 400 km after each quarter refueling, but more accurate estimates will arise after its pilot operation. “In this pilot operation, the hydrogen bus, like a classic urban bus, will carry out different urban transports, but with several comparative advantages. It is silent since it is electric and has no internal combustion engine, but a fuel cell and an electric motor. It is environmentally friendly because it uses green hydrogen, produced by Renewable Energy Sources. In addition, it basically also cleans the air of the city, because in order to produce electricity through the fuel cell it should react hydrogen with the oxygen of the air, which is cleaned from the bus filters. Finally, the hydrogen compound with oxygen produces clean water, the only residue of the process’s notes. As regards the institutional framework for the supply of hydrogen vehicles, it recalls that this has been relatively recently passed and CluBE was one of its main editors: “We have been working closely with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to solve all those issues that have arisen, so that the bus can operate pilotly and can be refueled. In addition, in the next period, in collaboration with the respective bus operators, and also with the ministry, we will see all issues related to their optimal operation and use by citizens. This is one of the purposes of roadshow: to highlight and initiate institutional changes that should take place so that in the next period we can move from pilot operation to normal, greening the transport sector,” he says. Soon in operation the first “hydrogenates” in Greece Under what conditions could hydrogen buses be launched in Greece not just pilot but also in full operation? “The conditions for the release not only of hydrogen buses but also more generally hydrogen vehicles in Greece” Mr Davos estimates, “are very specific. Initially, we should talk about a hydrogen scale economy, in which green hydrogen will not be transferred from other countries, but will be produced within Greece.” Therefore, appropriate infrastructure for the production of green hydrogen and suitable supply stations should be created so that it can also pass to the transport sector. Can existing buses be converted into hydrogen vehicles? ‘The majority of hydrogen buses are electric with fuel cells, but there is clearly a possibility of converting existing buses with internal combustion engines from conventional fuels to hydrogen’ replies Mr Davos. “But as you can see, in order to be able to supply these vehicles with hydrogen, special supply stations, the so-called “hydrogonals”, for which the respective Joint Ministerial Decision (CYA) was adopted in March 2023, must be built. Soon we will have in Greece the first hydrogen stores in operation” he announces and adds that from the evaluation (validation test), which will take place as part of the test shows of the hydrogen bus, it is estimated that important information will be obtained to enable the necessary legislative framework to be established and improved, on the marketing and distribution of hydrogen as fuel. ‘Until now the quantities required for the use of hydrogen in the transport sector are small and its marketing and distribution status is covered by legislation relating to the transport of hospital gases. Therefore, other similar legislation relating to the transport and use of hydrogen, such as the maximum pressure associated with the transport of gaseous fuels under pressure, is expected to be created,” concludes Mr Davos.