Carinthia runs on hydrogen: Austria's largest H2 bus fleet enters service

The Austrian state of Carinthia is taking a major step in decarbonising public transport. In Villach, Austria's largest hydrogen bus fleet has entered service: 35 regional buses operated by ÖBB Postbus running on green hydrogen. At the same time, the country's first dedicated hydrogen refuelling station opened.

A fleet built for the mountains

The buses, of the type MCV C127 FC LE from manufacturer MCV, have been specially adapted for the demanding Alpine road network. They operate in the Villach region and through the Drau, Rosental and Gegendtal valleys, among others. Each fill gives a range of around 400 to 500 km, and refuelling takes just 10 to 15 minutes, comparable to a conventional bus. Together they cover about two million kilometres a year. This makes Carinthia the first Austrian state to opt for a hydrogen bus fleet in regional transport.

A hydrogen fuel cell generates electricity directly in the vehicle. A nice advantage in winter: the heat released in that reaction can be used to heat the bus. The buses also run smoothly and quietly, benefiting passenger comfort and the quality of life for local residents.

Local, green hydrogen

The hydrogen is 100% green and produced regionally. Energy company Kelag built an electrolysis plant in Arnoldstein that produces up to 700 kg of green hydrogen per day, using electricity from renewable sources. The hydrogen is transported by trailer over a short distance of around 25 km to the refuelling station at the Postbus site in Villach, where it is stored and compressed.

A clever detail: the oxygen released during electrolysis is used in a waste incineration plant, and the residual heat feeds into the district heating network. The project thus contributes not only to cleaner transport but also to the heating transition.

Cooperation and build-up

The project is called DeCarB (Decarbonising Carinthian Bus Transport), an initiative of the state of Carinthia with a broad consortium: the Carinthian Transport Association, Gutmann (which built the station), Kelag and ÖBB Postbus. The purchase was supported through Austrian subsidy programmes for zero-emission vehicles.

ÖBB Postbus has been building experience for a while: since December 2022, the first five hydrogen buses ran in the Villach-Land region. With this expansion, the total grows to 36 buses.

Why it matters

Precisely on longer regional routes and in mountainous terrain, where range, refuelling time and energy management are crucial, hydrogen buses show their value. Alongside battery-electric transport, Carinthia demonstrates how hydrogen can be a valuable, zero-emission addition, embedded in a local energy system with green production.

Sources

• Fuel Cells Works – fuelcellsworks.com
• ÖBB Postbus – postbus.at
• Sustainable Bus – sustainable-bus.com
• ORF Kärnten – kaernten.orf.at
• busplaner – busplaner.de