For several years now, Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (rnv) has been using the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro G fuel cell model, which uses fuel cells as range extenders, enabling largely local emission-free travel. rnv has 48 such vehicles in its fleet, 8 of which are allocated to the Ludwigshafen depot area – we had reported HERE about the project.
Eight climate-friendly eCitaro G fuel cell range extender buses, which rnv has procured as part of the H2Rivers funding project, are now refuelling at a new hydrogen filling station next to the rnv depot. The hydrogen offered there is green. Other types of vehicles, including the fuel cell waste collection vehicle operated by Wirtschaftsbetriebe Ludwigshafen, also refuel at the publicly accessible combination filling station, which offers pressure levels of 350 and 700 bar.
The station in Ludwigshafen is the third hydrogen filling station to be jointly implemented by H2 MOBILITY and rnv. A hydrogen filling station was opened a year ago in Heidelberg-Wieblingen at the new municipal depot for alternative drive systems and at the rnv depot in Mannheim. Other municipal companies and surrounding logistics firms also benefit from the new locations: all filling stations are open to the public and can refuel hydrogen vehicles at pressure levels of 350 and 700 bar.
Thanks to the H2Rivers and H2Rhein-Neckar funding projects with a project volume of almost €100 million, a vibrant hydrogen ecosystem has emerged in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region over the past two years, with a total of four hydrogen filling stations from H2 MOBILITY, 48 fuel cell buses and 10 hydrogen-based waste collection vehicles. The H2Rhein-Neckar and H2Rivers projects demonstrate the use of new hydrogen technologies and are pioneering the establishment of regional value chains. The conversion of public transport to fuel cell range extender buses also provides important insights for local authorities and bus operators, which are being scientifically evaluated in accompanying research.
The development of the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region as a hydrogen region is being promoted as part of the National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP2) as a winning region of the ‘HyLand – Wasserstoffregionen in Deutschland (Hydrogen Regions in Germany)’ programme with up to €20 million in investment grants from the BMV and coordinated by Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar GmbH. The hydrogen filling station in Ludwigshafen am Rhein will receive €1,284,000 in funding. The funding guidelines are coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by the project management agency Jülich.
(Info: rnv)
03.12.2025
