Fuel cell bus in test operation in Madrid: 1000 km range

Hydrogen Test Operation with Fuel Cell Bus in Madrid

2026-07-29 From Bosch | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

Related Vendors

Robert Bosch GmbH

Robert Bosch GmbH Mobility Solutions

dataTec AG

SIMTOS (Seoul International Machine Tool Show)

The transport company Alsa is now testing a bus with a fuel cell drive in Madrid for several weeks: An Irizar test bus equipped with Bosch's new fuel cell system is now operating in the public transportation network of the Spanish capital. The vehicle has a range of more than 1000 kilometers (approx. 620 miles).

The new fuel cell system from Bosch is installed in this Irizar test bus. Alsa, the operator of the bus, plans a several-week test operation in Madrid's urban public transport.(Source: Bosch) — The new fuel cell system from Bosch is installed in this Irizar test bus. Alsa, the operator of the bus, plans a several-week test operation in Madrid's urban public transport.
(Source: Bosch)

The pressure on urban public transport in Europe is increasing: the EU has committed to reducing CO₂ emissions from city buses by 90 percent by 2030. Therefore, transport operators are now seeking reliable, emission-free solutions. A first pilot operation is now starting in Madrid: equipped with a fuel cell power module (FCPM) from Bosch, a bus from the provider Irizar will transport passengers through the Spanish capital for several weeks. The vehicle will primarily operate on routes where it can fully utilize the advantages of its high range. The operator is the Spanish bus company Alsa.

The fuel cell is the perfect complement to battery-electric drive—even in bus operations.

Thomas Pauer, Bosch

The test operation is intended to demonstrate whether the fuel cell technology is robust and reliable enough for the demanding everyday life in urban traffic.(Source: Bosch) — The test operation is intended to demonstrate whether the fuel cell technology is robust and reliable enough for the demanding everyday life in urban traffic.
(Source: Bosch)

Thomas Pauer, member of the Bosch Mobility Sector Board and Chairman of the Bosch Power Solutions Division Board, argues: "The fuel cell is particularly suitable for buses that travel long distances daily and have little opportunity to charge on the go." With the pilot operation, the company aims to demonstrate that its fuel cell technology is ready for series production in passenger transport.

In recent weeks, the test vehicle has already been trialed. Now, daily real-world operation is intended to confirm the robustness and strengths of the fuel cell drive. The test bus is equipped with Bosch's FCPM C190 fuel cell system. The system is based on a horizontal double stack and provides a continuous output of 190 kilowatts. The hydrogen tank offers a range of around 1,000 kilometers, with refueling times of ten to 15 minutes. This makes the bus suitable for intercity transport as well.

The fuel cell bus is primarily intended to operate on long routes.(Source: Bosch) — The fuel cell bus is primarily intended to operate on long routes.
(Source: Bosch)

Bus operators and urban transport companies are increasingly relying on alternatives to diesel engines due to EU regulations. This focuses on both improving air quality and protecting the climate. By 2030, CO₂ emissions from newly registered city buses must drop by 90 percent compared to the baseline year 2019. For other bus types, this requirement applies from 2040. Here, vehicles with fuel cell drive systems, which the EU recognizes as "zero-emission" vehicles, can make an important contribution. In 2025, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), approximately 38,000 buses were newly registered in the EU.

Hydrogen technology as an opportunity

Bosch is participating in the development of a hydrogen economy and is creating technical solutions for the production, infrastructure, and application of hydrogen. In 2025, the company announced the market launch of its Hybrion PEM electrolyzer stack for hydrogen production. Additionally, Bosch is working on technology for hydrogen engines and offers corresponding components for port and direct injection. At the end of 2025, a development team from the company was awarded the German President's Future Prize for Technology and Innovation for their work on mobile fuel cells.

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.