Climate-Neutral Travel

Within the project called “HyFleet”, Freudenberg is developing a long-range fuel cell system that will be tested directly in a demonstrator long-distance bus. “Freudenberg will contribute decades of fuel cell expertise on component and system level to the project,” explains Claus Möhlenkamp, President and CEO of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies. “We aim to significantly advance the long-term durability and efficiency of the technology and set standards for the total cost of ownership.” The project will also focus on hybridization strategies for powertrains, the so-called right-sizing between fuel cells and batteries.

Competent Partners

By researching hybrid fuel cell systems together with the project partner ZF Friedrichshafen, Freudenberg is working on an innovative issue that is highly relevant for all heavy-duty segments. “ZF’s broad technology portfolio and expertise on electrified powertrains and associated systems are already making it easier for vehicle manufacturers to get started in e-mobility. With their range and fast refueling times, fuel cells will play an important role in e-mobility for heavy commercial vehicles in the future,” says Wilhelm Rehm, member of the ZF Board of Management responsible for Commercial Vehicle Technology and Control Systems. “We have always had an open-minded approach to electrification technology – from the very beginning, fuel cells have also played an important role for us as a drive solution.”

The partner FlixBus contributes the expertise of a global mobility provider to the project. With the constant improvement of alternative drives and sustainable travel alternatives, FlixMobility is playing a key role in the shift to green mobility, explains André Schwämmlein, co-founder and CEO of FlixMobility. Together with over 500 partner companies, the business is already operating Europe’s largest fleet with more than 4,000 long-distance buses in regular service. “Fuel cell technology will make an important contribution to the drive train technology shift in mobility. And it gives bus manufacturers, for example, the opportunity to actively help shape the future of travel. We are proud to be part of the HyFleet project to develop the first fuel cell-powered long-distance bus in Europe until 2024 together with Freudenberg and ZF,” adds Schwämmlein.

The non-profit organization atmosfair is calculating the amount of the CO2 reductions of a FlixBus hydrogen fleet achieved due to the innovative fuel cell technology across the entire energy chain, including hydrogen production and distribution.

Sending a Message

Even if HyFleet is focusing on coach fleets, one of the project partners’ priorities from the outset is that the achieved results can be transferred to all heavy-duty segments, especially to freight transport with heavy trucks. Freudenberg also believes that coaches could play a pioneering role in the rapid switch to hydrogen mobility – because thanks to the long-distance buses, the refueling infrastructure created along the most heavily traveled highways would be reliably used to capacity. “We need pragmatic, climate-neutral drive solutions for long-distance freight transport,” says Claus Möhlenkamp. “Our fuel cell systems provide such a solution. Together with our partners, such as ZF Friedrichshafen and FlixBus, we are now developing the scientific basis for rapid industrialization and upscaling of the technology.”