Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH (RVK), founded on 1 June 1976 with buses from the German Federal Railways and the German Federal Post Office as a subsidiary of the “Vereinigte Bundes-Verkehrsbetriebe”, is today wholly owned by the municipalities and districts in which it operates. Its main municipal owners in the region are Kölner Verkehrs Betriebe (KVB), Stadtwerke Bonn (SWB), Elektrische Bahnen der Stadt Bonn und des Rhein – Sieg Kreises (SSB) and Rhein – Sieg Verkehrs Gesellschaft (RSVG) from Troisdorf, each with 12.5 %.
RVK’s first hydrogen buses in 2011
RVK began using its first two hydrogen buses as early as 2011. Buses 10 and 100 of the type “Phileas 18” from the Dutch manufacturer APTS (Advanced Public Transport Systems) were put into service, a futuristic vehicle with ultra-modern technology that unfortunately had too many teething troubles. This ultimately broke APTS’ neck. Considering the fantastic ideas in the car, this was a shame.
To refuel, the two Phileas drove to the “Chempark” in Cologne’s south-western neighbouring town of Hürth. Here, the hydrogen was produced as a “waste product” in the manufacture of PVC. Until then, it had been uselessly destroyed as unusable by flaring. Finally, it could be put to good use and, what’s more, make transport environmentally friendly.
The current fleet
Meanwhile, according to a press release of 23 August, RVK already has 72 hydrogen buses in use, built by the manufacturers Van Hool (type “New A 330 FC”) and Solaris (type “Urbino 12 hydrogen”). By the end of the year the first cars of the Northern Irish manufacturer Wrightbus of the type “GB Kite hydrogen” are expected, so that RVK will soon have 100 hydrogen buses. People are satisfied with the technology.
In April 2022, RVK received a funding decision from the German Federal Ministry of Transport (BMDV) for 108 hydrogen-powered fuel cell hybrid buses. It then invited tenders for the delivery of the corresponding buses in several award procedures, including the delivery of 29 articulated buses with hydrogen drive.
Contract awarded to Solaris
Now the contract has been awarded for the delivery of 18 articulated buses with hydrogen fuel cells, which will be delivered in the second half of 2024 and will be used in the region around Cologne and Bonn. The order went to Solaris for its “Urbino 18 hydrogen”.
RVK Managing Director Marcel Frank: “It is only thanks to the support of the BMDV that we can further expand our commitment to sustainable local public transport. The fuel cell articulated bus was missing until now, we can now close this gap.”
Olivier Michard, Solaris Head of Sales, Marketing and After Sales, added: “The greater Cologne and Bonn area is becoming a European frontrunner in the use of hydrogen technology in public transport. Starting with the first order of Solaris vehicles in 2020, we have initiated a partnership with RVK that sets new standards for European transport operators.”
Another 25 weitere Urbino 18 hydrogen had ordered DVG in Duisburg in July 2023.
About the technology of the ordered Solaris articulated buses
The new articulated buses will run on axles made by ZF from Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. They will be modularly driven by a TMF 35-44-4 electric central motor from TSA (Traction Systems Austria). There is no conventional engine compartment (as with the diesel bus), so the seats could be better arranged in this area. This also increases the passenger capacity of the buses.
