Electric buses in Moscow go to hydrogen for ecology

“Moscow ranks first in Europe by the number of electric buses. This is very important not only to show off, but it is primarily important from the point of view of ensuring the necessary environmental standards”, – Vladimir Putin.

Moscow is among the leaders for development of ecological electric urban transport. The capital of Russia is ahead of European cities in the number of operating electric buses. There are already more than 700 of them in Moscow. Following the Order of the Mayor of Moscow, in 2021 the Government of Moscow refused to purchase diesel buses, so the main emphasis is on the development of only eco-friendly transport.

Next year, a hydrogen electric bus will be tested in Moscow –the same electric bus, but with an innovative hydrogen installation. The agreement on this was signed in July by the Government of Moscow, KAMAZ PJSC and RUSNANO JSC. 

Moscow can become a pioneer in this field, so it is planned to test the first hydrogen innovative transport on the basis of the Moscow electric bus. In this e-bus some lithium-titanium batteries will be replaced with hydrogen power plants. It is just as reliable in any weather, accommodates up to 80 people (33 passenger seats) and is ideal for low-mobility passengers and passengers with young children.

On September 9, 2021, the Government of Moscow, together with KAMAZ and RUSNANO, approved an action plan for the development and testing of the first Russian hydrogen electric bus.

The hydrogen bus can be more convenient, since it requires replenishing the fuel supply only once a day — with hydrogen or ordinary water. Electric and hydrogen power plants of one such electric bus can reduce CO2 emissions by 10 or more times during the operation stage. The generation of electricity using a hydrogen fuel cell is accompanied only by the release of water vapor and heat, which in winter can be effectively used to heat the interior of the hydrogen electric bus itself.

«The President Vladimir Putin said that electric buses in Moscow are very important from the point of view of ecology. Three years ago, the Mayor of Moscow entrusted us with an important task – to make urban transport eco-friendly and even safer. The quality of life of Muscovites directly depends on it. Moscow is open for cooperation with various organizations that produce zero-emission vehicles. So, we have approved a plan for the development and testing of the first Russian hydrogen electric buses–- this is a symbiosis of the already existing Moscow KAMAZ electric buses and RUSNANO hydrogen power plants. During the year we are waiting for the first sample of such an electric bus – its manufacturing companies, with the participation of Mosgortans employees, will test it on the territory of the already existing KAMAZ assembly plant in Moscow at the Sokolniki Car Building Plant, and after we are convinced of its complete safety, we plan to start testing it  on the streets of Moscow» – Maksim Liksutov, the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport.