Bosch has introduced a new hydrogen fuel cell system designed for city buses, expanding its Fuel Cell Power Module (FCPM) portfolio into the public transport segment.
The new system, called the FCPM C100, was unveiled at the Mobility Move in Berlin. The module delivers 100 kilowatts of power and is designed for installation on the roof of buses measuring between 12 and 18 meters in length.
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Bosch said the module’s flat design, with a height of around 40 centimeters, allows it to be mounted on the roof—an approach commonly used in European bus designs where components such as batteries or hydrogen systems are often installed above the passenger compartment.
The company’s Fuel Cell Power Modules have previously been used mainly in hydrogen-powered trucks. Examples include hydrogen logistics trucks supplied by Iveco for operations at facilities operated by BMW Group in Leipzig and Bosch’s own site in Nuremberg.
The FCPM C100 is designed for easier integration into bus platforms and includes standard controller area network (CAN) interfaces and diagnostic systems used in commercial vehicles.
Bosch also outlined other fuel cell systems aimed at different vehicle segments. The FCPM C190, delivering 190 kW of power, is intended for intercity and coach buses and is scheduled to begin test operations in demonstration vehicles during the first half of 2026. Unlike the C100 roof-mounted unit, this variant will be installed at the rear of the vehicle in a configuration similar to a conventional diesel bus engine.
A larger system, the FCPM C300 with 300 kW output, is already available and has been used in heavy-duty trucks and coach applications.
Bosch noted that while the FCPM is sometimes described as a propulsion system, the module itself does not include the electric drive motor. Instead, the system converts hydrogen into electrical energy, which can then be used to power a separate electric motor.
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The fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack with anode and cathode submodules, a Fuel Cell Power Transfer Unit with a DC/DC converter, a coolant pump, a high-voltage heater and integrated system control hardware and software.