Barcelona’s public transport operator, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), has unveiled a new prototype minibus powered entirely by hydrogen, developed in Sant Boi de Llobregat.
The project, known as HERO, was carried out by Catalan firm EVARM alongside Germany’s EKPO. At the presentation, TMB’s chief executive Xavier Flores explained that although Barcelona already operates the largest hydrogen bus fleet in Spain, a solution for minibuses had not been available until now.
Hydrogen technology was seen as the most practical alternative to diesel, since fully electric solutions for smaller vehicles remain underdeveloped. The newly adapted vehicle now runs on a hydrogen fuel cell, producing only water vapour as emissions.
Xavier Ribas, CEO of EVARM, highlighted that the team achieved the transformation in just nine months, replacing the traditional diesel engine with hydrogen propulsion. The next step is industrialisation and homologation, with hopes that refined models manufactured in Sant Boi will enter the market next year.
Experts stressed that hydrogen is not competing with electrification but complementing it, offering faster results at a lower cost while contributing to the city’s broader decarbonisation goals.
👉 Join our WhatsApp broadcast channel to get all of the latest news delivered to you
