The local team of the OLGA project was involved in testing the first hydrogen bus integrated into the Cluj-Napoca Municipality's transport fleet
The local team of the OLGA project was involvedin testing firstui hydrogen bus integrated into the transport fleet a Cluj-Napoca municipality
In a pioneering action regarding sustainable public transport, Cluj-Napoca became the first city in Romania to test a hydrogen-powered bus under normal conditions (with passengers). This demonstration in Cluj-Napoca is part of a wider European initiative, through the Clean Hydrogen Partnership that also includes the OLGA project, and aims to gradually replace diesel public transport with conventional fuels with alternatives with zero local emissions.
The innovative vehicle, presented to local authorities on 9 May 2024, marks a significant milestone in the city's efforts to adopt less polluting alternatives to conventional fuel transport. After the debut in Cluj, the campaign continued in Bulgaria, Greece and Macedonia. Hydrogen buses are at the forefront of green technology, using hydrogen fuel cells to power electric motors, resulting in zero emissions. The hydrogen is stored in tanks mounted on the roof of the bus, and passenger comfort is not affected. Significantly, hydrogen can be produced sustainably through the electrolysis of water, creating what is known as green hydrogen.
The success of this initiative in Cluj-Napoca is supported by the collaborative efforts of key local partners, strongly involved in the OLGA project. The Municipality of Cluj-Napoca, the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca through the Electric Mobility Applied Research Center (EMARC – Electric Mobility Applied Research Center) and Cluj Airport play a crucial role in promoting sustainable transport solutions. Within the OLGA project, the three partners contribute within the WP 2- Transport landside, access and multimodal activity package, and under the coordination of the mobility team, they actively contributed to the successful implementation of the tests and validated the use of this means of transport in passenger transfer management from the airport terminal.
Cluj-Napoca's adoption of hydrogen bus technology is a significant step in the city's commitment to environmental sustainability. Thanks to their participation in the OLGA project and other EU-funded initiatives, Cluj-Napoca is demonstrating leadership in the adoption of innovative, green technologies for public transport, setting an example for other cities in Romania and beyond.
The OLGA project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement no. 101036871
