Image: CottbusverkehrCottbusverkehr, the public transport operator for the city of Cottbus and the Spree-Neiße district, has announced that it is testing fuel cell technology for the first time in daily passenger service under real-world conditions this week. “The aim of the trial is to gain valuable insights into the vehicles’ performance in everyday service, as well as operational processes,” the operator stated in German. Key focus areas include range, refuelling procedures, deployment planning, and the interaction between vehicles, infrastructure, and driving personnel.A mobile hydrogen refuelling station was deployed as a prerequisite for the trial, which has now begun. This station became operational at the Cottbusverkehr depot in early April and serves as an interim solution to ensure the vehicles are supplied with fuel. “It will remain in place until the stationary hydrogen refuelling station, currently under construction, is commissioned towards the end of this year,” explained Cottbusverkehr.Cottbusverkehr and Spree-Neiße-Cottbusverkehr view the launch of the hydrogen buses as a clear signal that climate-friendly drive technologies are advancing in the region’s public transport sector. The trial is intended to lay the groundwork for future regular service and the further integration of zero-emission drive systems into the vehicle fleet.The hydrogen buses in question are models of the Kite Hydroliner type, manufactured by the Northern Irish company Wrightbus. Eleven of the 46 ordered units will be deployed directly in Cottbus, while the remaining 35 vehicles will operate in the service area of the subsidiary Spree-Neiße-Cottbusverkehr. As a reminder: in 2024, the Cottbus operators chose the Northern Irish model following tests at their depot and in urban traffic. The bus had “performed excellently even in the lowest temperatures,” as the responsible parties emphasised at the time.The funding notices for the hydrogen buses were received by Cottbusverkehr in 2022, contributing approximately €3.1 million towards their financing. Additionally, the public transport operator, together with its project partner LEAG, secured further funding under the Structural Strengthening Act for the refuelling infrastructure, amounting to around €7.5 million.cottbusverkehr.de (link in German)