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Three new hydrogen-powered zero emissions buses have been described as a \u201cmomentous step forward\u201d towards decarbonizing Ireland\u2019s public transport network.<\/p>\nThree new hydrogen-powered zero emissions buses have been described as a \u201cmomentous step forward\u201d towards decarbonizing Ireland\u2019s public transport network.<\/p>\n
Transport, Climate and Environment Minister Eamon Ryan launched the \u20ac2.4 million pilot scheme on Tuesday, with the fleet set to operate from next week on commuter services in the Greater Dublin Area.<\/p>\n
It is the first scheme of its kind in Ireland and the buses are three of only 4,200 hydrogen powered vehicles worldwide.<\/p>\n
Minister Ryan said: \u201cI hope this will be the first of many of these types of buses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey particularly work on longer routes, where your battery wouldn\u2019t be as easily recharged.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis can be refueled overnight, the fuel cell powers the battery and runs the bus.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have all the benefits of an electric system, but that fuel cell running it means we don\u2019t have to charge it during the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there\u2019s going to be a real place for hydrogen in our transport mix. In the heavier transport modes, including these sort of buses.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday is where we\u2019re starting, it\u2019s a really significant step in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
The three vehicles were recently purchased by the National Transport Authority and will go into service next week on Bus \u00c9ireann\u2019s route 105X, which runs between Dublin and Ratoath, Co Meath.<\/p>\n
The vehicles operate in a similar way to battery-electric buses, the primary difference being the addition of an on-board fuel cell and hydrogen storage tanks, which allow for longer journeys of up to 400 km.<\/p>\n
A chemical reaction within the fuel cell converts hydrogen and oxygen from the air into electricity and water vapor.<\/p>\n
The electricity is then stored in on-board batteries and utilized to propel the bus using electric traction motors, while the water vapor is expelled at the rear of the bus.<\/p>\n
During braking, energy is recovered to top-up the batteries.<\/p>\n
Bus \u00c9ireann chief executive Stephen Kent said it was a \u201cproud day\u201d for the company, as it seeks to halve its emissions by 2030.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a momentous step forward, there\u2019s only around 4,200 vehicles of hydrogen around there world, and these are the very first ones appearing in Ireland\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
While the buses are close to twice the price of diesel vehicles, it is hoped the 12-month pilot scheme will be able to identify savings in other areas.<\/p>\n
Mr Kenny said: \u201cThere\u2019s a lot to be learned and as you know, hydrogen doesn\u2019t have any economies of scale yet, in terms of its production.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we\u2019re at the very early stages. For sure, it\u2019s more expensive at the moment than diesel.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s no different than where we were 100 years ago, when the internal combustion engine started.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou needed to gather pace, build scale in the market.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s where it is, from our perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fleet themselves are slightly more expensive.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the real test will be in the whole of life costings that will go into the buses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s where we\u2019ll discover where the savings are on overall fuel efficiency.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, we expect these buses to last as long as every other bus, which has a 14 year life.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s the beginning of a journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of people that you know, chasing the hydrogen as a next fuel technology and we\u2019re delighted to be part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
NTA chief executive Anne Graham said: \u201cIt is more expensive.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we are at the start of a journey, and we want to invest in this technology, test it out and then see.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would expect those costs to come down over the years as there\u2019s more growth in the market.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cThanks to Luas and Dart, already almost a quarter of all public transport journeys on the Transport For Ireland network are on zero emission vehicles, and the NTA is committed to an accelerated transition to a more sustainable bus fleet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese buses are just one part of the overall approach, and hydrogen is just one of the technologies that we are looking to in the drive to make public transport more sustainable.\u201d<\/p>\n