I amsterdam - City of Amsterdam uses hydrogen technology in boats and buses

City of Amsterdam uses hydrogen technology in boats and buses

“Fuel-cell
buses are the future,” says Amsterdam Alderwoman Carolien Gehrels
(GVB). “That’s why our innovative municipal transport company invested
in them. We were one of the first in Europe. These buses are innovative
and sustainable and that fits in with our aim of making Amsterdam a
sustainable city.”

In
Amsterdam, a number of boats and buses are running on hydrogen for some
time now. The big advantage of these vehicles is that they are
environmentally friendly. These are so-called “zero emission vehicles”:
absolutely no emissions of harmful substances such as CO2 occur. The
trials are being carried out on a small scale but can count on a lot of
support from both government and business.

Fuel-cell buses

The municipal transport company (GVB) has been running three fuel-cell
buses for three years now, without any harmful emissions occurring, as
part of its regular service. It considers this form of electric
transport as the future. By using light materials to build the buses
and enabling the storage of braking energy, for example, they have
created the ideal bus: no harmful exhaust gases, little noise and very
low fuel consumption. The trial of the municipal transport company’s
hydrogen bus is being extended by a year and will therefore continue in
Amsterdam until January 2008.

Hydrogen boats

Recently,
a consortium of Dutch companies has also agreed to develop and build a
hydrogen-fuelled boat. In addition to the boat, the consortium will
also site a filling station in the Amsterdam-Noord city borough on the
IJ river. This consortium consists of 5 companies: Alewijnse, Integral,
Linde Gas, Marine Service Noord and Rederij Lovers. To develop the
first boat plus the filling station, they obtained a subsidy from the
Ministry of Economic Affairs. The City of Amsterdam (Amsterdam-Noord
city borough) has also contributed financially to the start-up costs.

“This
step is a fine example of the innovative vigour of the Dutch knowledge
industry and a breakthrough in the field of sustainable energy,” says
Hauke Sie of Fuel Cell Boat. “The development and construction of this
hydrogen boat is taking place in close consultation with the government
bodies, research institutions and companies involved”.

It is
possible that the boat will be cruising through the canals of Amsterdam
later this year. During the rush hours in the morning and afternoon,
the boat will transport Shell employees from the Central Station in
Amsterdam to the company, which is situated on the other side of the
IJ. “The purchase price of the ‘green’ water bus is higher than that of
a normal water bus,” says Hauke Sie of Fuel Cell Boat, “but the final
price will not be double that of an ordinary boat. It is also possible
to operate such a boat on competitive terms with a traditional
diesel-powered boat.''

Air Quality Action Plan

“The exhaust gases from motorised transport are still the biggest cause
of air pollution,” says Alderwoman Marijke Vos (Environment). “A lot of
measures are being introduced that are intended to lead to less and
cleaner traffic in the city. Making vehicles cleaner by such means as
fitting soot filters to diesel engines is an important measure. In
time, a ban on very dirty heavy goods vehicles will also have a great
impact. And of course we need more vehicles running on hydrogen!”

The
Amsterdam College of Aldermen has initiated an Air Quality Action Plan.
The plan comprises fifty measures for improving Amsterdam’s air
quality. For example, the City of Amsterdam’s own fleet of vehicles
will be made cleaner and civil servants will learn how to drive in a
more environmentally friendly way. Goods transport in Amsterdam must be
cleaner and more efficient, which is to be achieved by such means as
loading more cargo on the trucks and making them use different routes.

For more information on this press release please contact

Spokeswoman Meriam Juthan


Government of Amsterdam


T +31 20 552 2619

For specific information about hydrogen boats please contact

Spokesman Hauke Sie


Fuel Cell Boat / Integral


T +31 20 630 4333

I amsterdam - City of Amsterdam uses hydrogen technology in boats and buses

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