Hong Kong’s first hydrogen buses and refueling station expected to operate in October

Hong Kong’s first hydrogen buses are expected to commence services in October alongside the city’s first hydrogen refueling station, the core equipment of which has been completed and accepted by Citybus. 

The core equipment was manufactured at CIMC Enric’s CIMC Hydrogen Langfang Manufacture Base, and will be installed in Hong Kong in August, Citybus announced on Thursday. 

The equipment integrates unloading, compressing, cooling, hydrogen refueling and remote online monitoring functions. It also ensures safe and efficient refueling of hydrogen buses via its user-friendly interface and advanced security features enabled by intelligent monitoring, according to the bus company. 

The station, located in Citybus’ West Kowloon Depot, will be operational by October when all safety tests and personnel training are completed supporting the first hydrogen bus equipped with the Type IV on-board hydrogen cylinders. 

The station was backed and supported by shareholders Templewater and Hans Energy. Supply and installation contracts were granted to CIMC Hydrogen Energy Technology (Beijing) Co Ltd, a subsidiary of CIMC Enric Holdings Ltd. 

Citybus said they will be introducing no fewer than five hydrogen buses with an estimated range of over 400 km in the coming year, in support of authorities’ plan to test hydrogen, electric and diesel buses in parallel. 

Citybus also said they plan to build a second hydrogen refueling station on Hong Kong Island next year, which will provide hydrogen refueling services for their production model hydrogen double deck buses. 

Their plan is still pending the government’s approval.