Hydrogen buses in Palma, Mallorca

The first three of the five buses were unveiled in March. | MDB

Andrew EdePalma22/07/2023 19:53
TW
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The five hydrogen buses acquired by Palma town hall are off the road because there isn't sufficient hydrogen to power them.

The buses were presented in March by the previous administration, the new councillor for mobility, Antoni Deudero, maintaining that the purchase was both a nonsense and a deception. They were bought without having guaranteed that they would have fuel. The cost of the five buses was 4.8 million euros, almost one million for each one. By contrast, natural gas buses cost 280,000 euros. "They could have bought 15 gas buses that would now be on the roads."

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The problem with supply of hydrogen, according to Deudero, is twofold - the Lloseta plant cannot produce it and there are shipping regulations regarding the pressure of hydrogen tanks. At present, it's "impossible" to put the buses into service. In addition, he says, the fuel cells for each bus are contaminated with refrigerant. "They're useless. They can't be used."

The councillor adds that work is being done in order to be able to use the buses "in the medium term".