In Salzburg

Hydrogen bus in test operation on two routes

The new bus runs on hydrogen. Refueling takes place in Salzburg-Liefering(Bild: SVV/Neumayr)

A new bus is currently being tested in Salzburg: The hydrogen vehicle is in practical operation on two Albus routes. The Salzburg Transport Association and Salzburg AG have started the test operation.

A new bus is currently on the road in Salzburg. More precisely, on routes 36 (Wals-Europark) and 181 (Salzburg-Wals-Walserberg). The modern bus does completely without diesel or electric drive - it runs on hydrogen. 

This test phase should provide the Salzburg Transport Association (SVV) and Salzburg AG with important insights into the performance and efficiency of hydrogen technology under real conditions. 

"The feedback from the drivers is good. Only on the Gaisberg do we currently see in operation that the battery bus is ahead," says Hermann Häckl, Managing Director of Salzburg Albus Verkehrsbetrieb. For the comparison in practice, the hydrogen bus is used on the two routes, as electric buses are already in operation on these routes.

"I see a hurdle in the refueling infrastructure and significantly higher costs for purchase and operation," says Häckl. The bus is currently being refueled at a mobile hydrogen filling station in Liefering.