With the unveiling of the new hydrogen buses and the opening of the first hydrogen refueling station, Carinthia is entering a new era of climate-friendly mobility. This marks the first time a large-scale fleet of hydrogen buses is being deployed for regional and intercity transport. At the same time, the 35-vehicle fleet operated by Postbus is the largest hydrogen bus fleet in Austria.
The project impressively demonstrates that zero-emission powertrains function reliably and are suitable for everyday use even outside urban centers.
The foundation for hydrogen mobility in Carinthia
The initiative is being implemented as part of the “DeCarB – Decarbonising Carinthian Bus Transport” project in collaboration with the State of Carinthia and key partners such as the Carinthian Transport Association, Kelag, Gutmann, and ÖBB Postbus. At the heart of the initiative is the new hydrogen refueling station at the Postbus facility in Villach, where regionally produced, CO₂-free hydrogen is supplied for daily bus operations. Carinthia is thus positioning itself as Austria’s model region for hydrogen in public transportation - and setting an important milestone for the mobility of the future.
An Overview of Hydrogen Buses
The 12-meter-long hydrogen buses, which are technically electric buses equipped with fuel cells, have a range of up to 400 kilometers per refueling. They are refueled with approximately 40 kilograms of hydrogen, and the refueling process takes only about 10 to 15 minutes. The vehicles are quiet, emission-free in daily operation, and specifically designed for use in regional and intercity transport - even on topographically challenging routes and during winter operations.