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Hungary is betting on hydrogen to reduce its transport emissions , Source: Attila Steiner on Facebook

Hungary launches first hydrogen bus route in Budapest

Hungary launches first hydrogen bus route in Budapest

It paves the way for wider adoption of hydrogen technology

Yesterday, the Hungarian State Secretary for Climate, Energy Policy and the Development of the Circular Economy, Attila Steiner, announced the launch of the first-ever hydrogen bus line in Hungary.

The line will go from Budapest to the nearby suburb of Vecsés and will run for around three weeks. Authorities will use the opportunity to gather information on the everyday usage of the hydrogen bus.

The line was created by HUMDA, the Hungarian Motorsport and Green Mobility Development Agency and it will have a single green hydrogen-powered bus, that citizens will be able to use for free. The bus will start operating on 11 February and it will run on the streets of Budapest until 6 March.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles offer a range of benefits in comparison to conventional electric options and, according to HUMDA, are quite comparable to their fossil-fueled counterparts. Despite a slight price difference, hydrogen is way less polluting than fossil fuels.

To be more precise, hydrogen can have zero emissions if it is produced with renewable sources. This is because hydrogen power cells create electricity by using electrolysis and the only exhaust product is water.

Hungary’s hydrogen strategy

According to State Secretary Steiner, the transport sector accounts for a fifth of CO2 emissions in Hungary. This is why the government will need to implement pretty robust solutions to cut back on carbon.

This is why last June, the government adopted the National Hydrogen Strategy, aiming for more widespread adoption of the new technology. The plan calls for a fast expansion on production capacities, with 16,000 tons of carbon-free, 20,000 tons of low-carbon hydrogen and 240 megawatts of electrolysis capacity by 2030.

They also plan to start using hydrogen in traditionally fossil-fuel dependent sectors like power plants as well as in the military. In terms of vehicles, the strategy calls for the creation of 40 filling points, as well as 4.8 thousand heavier hydrogen-powered buses and trucks by 2030.

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