On 12 January 2023, we organized a Hydrogen Workshopin Trnava, where in addition to the stimulating contributions of foreign and local speakers regarding the deployment of hydrogen busesin the EU, a test run of the CaetanoBus hydrogen bus was evaluated and its suitability for operation in Slovak conditions was assessed.
We were informed what development awaits hydrogen bus transport in Slovakia and specifically in Trnava and from what it could be financed. According to P. Nemec (Arriva Trnava) will be deployed in late 2026 or the beginning of 2027. The workshop followed the Central European H2 bus roadshow,which started in Slovenia, continued in Croatia and the Czech Republic, and after Slovakia, CaetanoBus will be presented in Hungary.
Hydrogen buses in the EU
In the first panel entitled „Hydrogen Buses in European Union“
- Bart BIEBUYCK (Clean Hydrogen Partnership) gave an overview of the current state of hydrogen bus implementation in the EU,
- Eva BAKER (Element Energy) discussed the JIVE/JIVE2/MEHRLIN projects,
- Francisco MAGALHAES (CaetanoBus) presented the H2City Gold hydrogen bus,
- Tim EVISON (Messer SE & Co. KGaA ) explained the refuelling of renewable hydrogen and
- Aivars STARIKOVS (Latvian Hydrogen Association) specified the financial support in this field.
Perspectives of hydrogen transport development in Trnava
During the second discussion session "Perspectives of hydrogen transport development in Trnava" :
- Peter NEMEC (Arriva Trnava) summarized the key findings from the test runs of the hydrogen bus and outlined the future of public transport in Trnava. The buses should be deployed in Trnava in late 2026 or early 2027 and will use a refuelling station that will be built near them in a year's time. They don't want to focus only on urban transport,but since the bus will travel 350km on 1 refuelling, it will also be able to be used in suburban transport.
- Juraj PETROVIČ (Messer Tatragas) and Peter HÁJIK (EMPARK ) explained the current situation of hydrogen refuelling stations in Trnava and in Slovakia in general and
- Pavol PLEVA (JESS) presented the production of green hydrogen for Trnava.
Evaluation of the test run of the CaetanoBus hydrogen bus
- Start of the ride - 10.1.2023 00:00
- End of ride - 12.1.2023 00:00
- Consumption - 9.59 Kg/100km
- Average speed - 25.4 Km/h
- Average ambient temperature - 5°
- Distance - 409.8 km
Slovak National Hydrogen Association as the national coordinator of the event on this occasion thanks the city of Trnava, companies Arriva, Messer Tatragas and Empark for their support in organizing the event, as well as all the speakers and attendees, that together we support the development of hydrogen technologies in Slovakia.
