Germany's capital city of Berlin is working with Volvo and fuel cell maker Proton Motor GmbH (Starnberg, Germany) to replace its aging fleet of double-decker buses with new vehicles fueled by emission-free hydrogen. BVG, Berlin's public transportation body, confirmed that construction plans have been completed for the buses, with the first model scheduled to hit the streets sometime next year for testing.
Two prototypes of the Volvo fuel cell bus will likely be put into service on the "100" and "200" lines, which pass by the city's most popular attractions – from Potsdamer Platz to the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate – and are enormously popular with tourists. The buses' fuel cell technology will make them quieter and more environmentally sound. Their only emission will be steam.
The buses will also help cut pollution by increasing the number of passengers they can carry. Currently, Berlin buses can only hold an average of 95 passengers, but the new buses will be able to pack in 120 to 130. In order to accommodate the load, the buses' size will be 1.8 m (4.92 ft) longer than the current 13.5 m (44.29 ft) double-deckers in the city's fleet.
