Andes Motor and Foton have deployed the ‘first’ hydrogen-powered bus to begin operations in Chile.
The interurban bus will be operated in collaboration with Buses Hualpén, Anglo American, Copec and Linde, and it will come equipped with a 120kW SinoHytec G120 hydrogen fuel cell.
The 47-passenger bus will be capable of travelling up to 400km when its hydrogen tanks and batteries are fully charged, with safety features such as lane departure warning (LDWS), advanced emergency braking (AEBS), and stability control (ESC).
The vehicle’s charging solution was developed by Copec Voltex and Linde, with the latter in charge of providing hydrogen for the bus.
The hydrogen bus was announced during an event in the district of Lampa, attended by the (acting) Minister of Economy, Javiera Petersen; the Undersecretary of Transportation, Jorge Daza; and the Executive Vice President of CORFO, José Miguel Benavente, with senior executives from the associated companies also present.
Andes Motor’s Electromobility Manager, Cristián Contreras, said, “The arrival of the first hydrogen bus in the country reaffirms our vocation to contribute to transportation with Avant-grade, efficient and environmentally friendly solutions, from which we can all benefit.
“1,347 Foton electric buses are already in circulation operation in the RED Metropolitan Transportation System and now we are presenting an attractive option that uses hydrogen for medium-distance transportation, which is also zero emissions.”
Buses Hualpén will operate the bus, and its General Manager, Daniel González, said, “In our task of connecting thousands of people from different industries in Chile, we are committed to use more and more state-of-the-art equipment, and we do it as a commitment to our clients and to the country.”
Linde’s General Manager, Agustín Amadeo, claimed the company has been “focused on adding value, promoting the energy transition, with the aim of seeking carbon neutrality in different sectors,” particularly in medium and long-distance transportation.
Project partner, Anglo American, recently undertook a study that found the development of a green hydrogen valley in Chile is feasible and could potentially benefit communities and environment.
Source : H2 View
