Daimler Buses said it has sent its first hydrogen-powered coach, the Setra “H₂ Coach,” on test drives in Germany, marking a step toward expanding its range of locally emission-free long-distance buses.
The technology carrier, based on the Setra S 517 HD model, uses fuel cell components derived from the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck developed by parent company Daimler Truck. Equipped with two hydrogen tanks holding 46 kilograms and a cellcentric fuel cell unit, the vehicle targets a minimum range of 800 kilometers on a full tank. The system delivers 300 kW of electrical output, which is converted by an electric motor into up to 400 kW of mechanical drive power.
Daimler Buses said the test vehicle, weighing up to 24.7 tonnes, has been approved under German road traffic regulations for both internal testing and public road trials. “With the H₂ Coach, we are paving the way for zero-emission coach travel, complementing our battery-electric models with hydrogen technology for greater range and flexibility,” the company said in a statement.
The manufacturer plans to introduce battery-electric coaches by the end of the decade, with fuel-cell models to follow in series production. Its Neu-Ulm site, where 3,800 employees develop and build buses of all drive types, is leading the project.
Daimler Buses has pursued a dual e-mobility strategy aligned with Daimler Truck, relying on both batteries and hydrogen. The fully electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro city bus has been in production since 2018 and became available with a fuel-cell range extender in 2023. A new battery-electric intercity bus, the Mercedes-Benz eIntouro, will debut at Busworld Europe in Brussels in October 2025 and is already available for order.