H2Alpin is a demonstration project in the field of mobility for the use of heavy-duty trucks and buses in local public transport with fuel cell vehicles. The use is planned in Alpine areas, characterized by altitude differences, extreme weather conditions and overland routes. The data is collected and analyzed. To roll out hydrogen mobility in this area, additional procurement platforms for H2 trucks and buses will be created.
For Alpine regions, mobility and transit represent major challenges in climate protection. In recent years, Tyrol has prepared strategy papers that also focus on hydrogen as an energy carrier for public transport and freight logistics. To implement these strategies sustainably, an integrative approach is needed to jointly solve technical, economic and organisational challenges. It is precisely these three topics that H2Alpin is addressing in order to develop system solutions for the mobility transition in the Alpine region in a large scale interdisciplinary demonstration project. Although there are already urban pilot projects for fuel cell electric vehicles, there is still a lack of important technical experience for Alpine applications in order to further develop the vehicles and to define an optimum application for hydrogen mobility. Within the framework of H2Alpin, hydrogen-powered buses and the first trucks will be tested in Alpine conditions (temperature extremes, snow, winding mountain roads, transit passes) and real data on driving behaviour, maintenance, energy consumption, etc. will be collected and analysed. Economic viability is still the biggest hurdle for the switch to hydrogen-powered mobility. The procurement of vehicles is difficult to afford for end users. Therefore, business models for procurement platforms are being developed and tested. Via these platforms, vehicle pools can be procured, maintained, and made available to third parties via a leasing model. The Tyrolean Mobility Coordinator will implement this for public passenger transport, a private company for freight logistics. Also, hydrogen prices play a major role for the mobility transition. To be able to offer additional attractive hydrogen prices on the market, demand and production simulations will be used by the hydrogen logistics side to design attractive supply-demand pricing models for H2 commercialisation. To ensure a green hydrogen supply for a comprehensive mobility transition in Tyrol, it is necessary to develop accurate simulation models that map all relevant factors for a gradual transition to zero-emission mobility. In the small-structured, Alpine-tourist region of Tyrol, renewable energy is mainly available from a network of hydropower plants. Seasonal fluctuations in energy supply and hydrogen demand as well as the location on one of the strongest European transit routes must be considered. The regional implementation plan, which is being developed in consultation with stakeholders and in compliance with current and future standards, is intended to help give both hydrogen producers and users planning security for their business models. With the measures initiated within the frame of the H2Alpin project, hydrogen-based mobility should already save around 17,700 tons of CO2 by the end of 2030.
With the pilot project H2Alpin, Tyrol is not only researching hydrogen mobility in the Alpine region, but is also bringing together twelve leading cooperation partners to gain knowledge about the applicability of hydrogen mobility in heavy freight and local passenger transport in Tyrol and thus ultimately accelerate the mobility transition. By 2025, at least two fuel cell buses will be put into test and analysis operation for H2Alpin; by 2030, if the project is successful, around 25 hydrogen buses and 20 hydrogen trucks should be in use.
[Latest update: September 2024]
