Hydrogen buses and hybrid diesel trains being trialled in 2023 towards greener public transport for Adelaide
One of the hydrogen-powered buses (top) to be trialled across Adelaide from 2023 and (below) a diesel Adelaide suburban railcar (below) of the type to be fitted with a battery storing energy created by braking.
A two-year hydrogen bus trial involving two vehicles from Morphettville bus depot on routes across Adelaide started in 2023 – adding to the greening of South Australia’s public bus and train fleet.
This innovative trial placed South Australia as an Australian leader in applying hydrogen technology across public transport network. The hydrogen buses would be fuelled from plant at the Tonsley Innovation District. With Foton Mobility, BOC and H2H Energy, operator Torrens Transit began internal testing of two Foton hydrogen fuel cell buses before being released to operate.
The benefits of hydrogen-powered vehicles over battery/electric buses included faster refuelling and greater range. Hydrogen fuel carried significantly more energy than equivalent weight of batteries, an important future option for powering trains on the Belair, Outer Harbor lines and Grange and Port Dock connections in Adelaide.
In 2023, initial testing of a prototype hybrid-diesel passenger railcar for the Adelaide suburban network was progressing, with a second railcar fitted with the new energy storage and recovery system. A two-car train set was first of 44 diesel railcars expected to be fitted with the hybrid system, with the trains to run on the Outer Harbor, Grange and Belair lines. This new system worked by storing kinetic energy generated when the train braked to an onboard battery, converting it into electrical energy to power normal train operations – cutting stress on the engine and fuel consumption by about 16%.
The train battery also would be used instead of the diesel engine to supply auxiliary loads (power for lighting and air-conditioning, for example) at the train platform within Adelaide Railway Station to reduce noise, emissions and air pollution. The energy storage and recovery system on the remaining trains would be progressively rolled out, with all trains expected to be in passenger service with the new system by mid 2024. Once the batteries were fully installed on the trains, Adelaide Metro would save an about 2,400 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Adelaide Metro also continued making significant steps towards a zero-emissions future across its bus fleet, with testing of the state's first full battery electric bus. Full battery electric buses offered more space and better comfort and accessibility for passengers, while eliminating noise and fuel-based pollution. Twenty-four electric hybrid buses already operated in 2024. Adelaide Metro was committed to transitioning to a zero-emissions public transport system to support the State Government's net zero emissions by the 2050 target.