GERMANY: Transdev subsidiary Bayerische Regiobahn has signed an agreement to lease a prototype Mireo Plus H hydrogen fuel cell-powered multiple unit from Siemens Mobility for trials in Bayern.
The contract signed on March 15 is a follow-up to the letter of intent which was signed in July 2021.
The two-car Mireo Plus H multiple-unit will be based on Siemens Mobility’s Mireo family of electric and battery powered units, with two roof-mounted 200 kW fuel cells from Ballard Power combined with underfloor batteries supplied by Saft.
The trainset is scheduled to be publicly unveiled later this spring. It will be tested on routes including Augsburg – Füssen from mid-2023, with passenger operation planned from January 2024 under a 30-month pilot project.
‘Green hydrogen is becoming a key pillar for comprehensive climate protection in the areas of transport, industry and energy’, said Bayern’s Economic Affairs Minister Hubert Aiwanger. ‘I am convinced that with green hydrogen propulsion we can significantly reduce pollutant emissions in heavy-duty and rail transport and contribute to decarbonisation.’ The project would also help to diversify energy sources, he added.
