A hydrogen and fuel cell system designer and manufacturer has been handed a $460,000 order to produce a fuel cell hybrid bus for a German city.

Hydrogenics will produce its Fuel Cell Hybrid MidiBus for Rheinbahn Rheinische Bahngesellschaft, the public transit authority of the Dusseldorf area in Germany.

Hydrogenics' power systems German-based team will install a HyPM based fuel cell hybrid power-plant into a Tecnobus Gulliver electric Midibus platform.

The hybrid bus will be able to travel 200km on one tank of hydrogen, compared with only 60 to 80km if powered by lead-acid batteries alone.

"This sale highlights the versatility of our fuel cell product line and our competency in hybrid systems development. Hydrogenics' future success requires us to create compelling value propositions for our products in existing markets," said Pierre Rivard, Hydrogenics president and chief executive.

"The addition of our standard 12kW power module to an existing battery-dominant bus platform has resulted in an enhanced new product with increased range, functionality and market opportunity."

The bus is intended to have a five-year life span and is thought to be best used in urban centres.

The majority of fuel cell technology uses a platinum or pgm catalyst to produce power from hydrogen fuel.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd