The Central Bohemian Region is taking steps to introduce hydrogen buses into regional transport. The Martin Uher bus company has announced a tender for the delivery of the first series of ten hydrogen buses, which will be powered by "green" hydrogen produced from the hydropower plant in Vrane nad Vltavou. The total value of this contract amounts to CZK 180 million.
The buses are to be used in regional public transport and are scheduled to be delivered within 15 months of the contract signing. These vehicles are to replace the existing fleet of ageing buses and contribute to the decarbonisation of transport in line with the EU supported policy.
The hydrogen buses will draw hydrogen directly from the Martin Uher bus headquarters in Mníšek pod Brdy, for which a filling station will be built by ČEZ. Electricity from the hydroelectric power plant in Vraný nad Vltavou will be used to electrolyse the hydrogen, thus ensuring that the green hydrogen comes from renewable sources.
The experiment in Mníšek pod Brdy will involve loading hydrogen buses in hilly terrain, which will be a test for realistic range in different seasons. The region is embarking on this project in line with the European directive, which stresses the need to increase the share of emission-free vehicles in transport. Even though hydrogen propulsion brings higher acquisition costs and a higher price for transport vehicles, the county is trying to move transport towards a more sustainable model.
The project does not yet fall into the normal trends of mass transit, where electric buses dominate. The negotiated date for the deployment of hydrogen buses on PID (Prague Integrated Transport) lines is expected to be in late 2025 or 2026, depending on the availability of the new technology from manufacturers.
