Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH (RVK) has put a driving school bus with a hydrogen fuel cell into operation. According to the company, it is the first driving school bus of this type at a transport company in Germany. The background is RVK's growing hydrogen fleet, which, with around 160 vehicles in regular service, is according to its own statements the largest in Europe.
The vehicle comes from a series of five used buses of the Solaris Urbino 12 Hydrogen type. Five of the total six buses acquired are to go into regular service, one was converted into a driving school bus. New vehicles are only available with long lead times due to the tense market situation, RVK reports.
Conversion with additional pedals and camera system
For use as a training vehicle, the bus was equipped with additional pedals and a front seat for the driving instructor. A system of cameras and monitors provides the instructor with external views during driving maneuvers. RVK deliberately dispenses with additional exterior mirrors. Trainees should get to know the bus as they will drive it later in regular service.
In addition to the hydrogen driving school bus, RVK operates two other driving school buses with diesel engines.
Different driving dynamics, different driving style
RVK points out several special features of the hydrogen bus that are to be taught in training. The drive and hydrogen technology – including the tank, fuel cell, cooling system, and buffer battery – are housed in a roof structure. For safety reasons, this is necessary but leads to a higher center of gravity than diesel buses. This affects behavior during cornering and braking maneuvers.
The energy-efficient driving style also differs: While diesel buses should be braked as little as possible to keep consumption low during acceleration, using the brake pedal in a hydrogen bus, according to RVK, positively affects fuel consumption. The electricity generated by the fuel cell flows into an electric motor, which feeds braking energy back into the buffer battery through recuperation.
First driving test already completed
"With the additional bus for our driving school fleet, we can intensify our training activities and also take driver training to a new level," says Marcel Frank, Managing Director of RVK. "The hydrogen bus enables our driving school team to advance training in handling alternative drives in public transport. RVK thus consistently stays on its future course."
According to RVK, the first driving test with the new driving school bus was taken on October 13. The examinee passed and is now part of the transport company's driving staff.
