Daimler Buses has launched road testing of its hydrogen-powered coach concept, the Setra H2 Coach, a technology demonstrator expected to deliver at least 800 kilometres on a single tank, the company said on Monday.
The 13.9-metre Setra S 517 HD is powered by two hydrogen tanks with a combined capacity of 46 kg and a 300 kW fuel cell unit from Cellcentric, the Daimler Truck and Volvo Group joint venture. Energy is channelled to an electric motor rated at 320 kW continuous output and up to 400 kW peak, delivering a maximum torque of 2,470 Nm.
“The bus is largely based on the drive components of the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck fuel cell truck,” Daimler Buses said, referring to Daimler Truck’s hydrogen model whose series production has been delayed to the early 2030s. The H2 Coach has been approved under Germany’s road traffic licensing rules, enabling tests beyond internal facilities.
Daimler said its first battery-electric coach remains scheduled for the end of the decade, followed by a fuel cell coach in the “next step.” The company is pursuing a dual-track strategy with battery-electric and hydrogen vehicles, with battery models prioritised.
The H2 Coach development builds on Daimler’s Electrified Coach project (ELCH), launched in 2022 with research institutes and industry partners including Flix. The initiative, funded by the German government, is focused on creating modular powertrain concepts and cost-efficient production methods for long-distance electric coaches.