The Technological Institute of Buenos Aires (ITBA) has received a chassis donated by the vehicles manufacturer, which will be used in the development of a hydrogen-electric hybrid bus. The granting ceremony took place in the Integrated Development Centre of Mechanical Engineering (CIDIM) in the City of Buenos Aires. During the event, details on the donation and the future woks on the units were revealed.
According to a press release issued by Mercedes-Benz Argentina, the chassis donated by the company is designed for a super-low floor bus for applications in a city with high passenger demand. It is equipped with a Mercedes-Benz OM 904 LA rear-engine with 177 hp and 675 Nm of torque, and meets Euro III emission standards.
The ITBA will convert the original diesel engine to be powered by hydrogen. The converted engine will be coupled with a generator, which will store electricity in batteries connected to a system optimized for electric vehicles driving, with regenerative braking energy. Hydrogen will be supplied at external fueling stations.
In this context it is important to highlight that, in early July, the National Hydrogen Plan was formally launched at the National University of the Littoral (UNL). In the short term, the National Center for Hydrogen (which would be under the purview of the National Department of Energy’s Office) will be founded, and in the medium and long term, it is expected that hydrogen will be injected into the gas pipeline network and used to power vehicles and buses.
Photo: José Luis Roces, on behalf of ITBA, stands together with Joachim Maier, President of Mercedes-Benz Argentina.
