TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Chung Hsin Electric and Machinery Mfg. Corp. have partnered with Huro Auto Co. to launch a hydrogen-powered bus, with plans to expand their presence in the global hydrogen bus market over the next three years.
The announcement was made Tuesday at an electric bus exhibition and forum held in Kaohsiung, organized by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Vehicle Safety Certification Center, per CNA.
The event attracted more than 500 attendees, including vehicle manufacturers, bus operators, energy experts, and transportation officials. It showcased nine domestically developed electric buses, alongside two other hydrogen-powered buses from Toyota and Hyundai.
The bus features fast hydrogen refueling capabilities, requiring seven to 10 minutes to refill, with a driving range of up to 365 kilometers. It is designed for high-frequency, long-distance, and heavy-load operations. The vehicle is also equipped with a high-pressure hydrogen supply system, a hydrogen storage device, and a monitoring system to ensure safe and stable operation.
Chung Hsin Electric and Machinery Mfg. Corp. said the new bus integrates its proprietary hydrogen power module. Huro Auto, which designed and manufactured the vehicle body, noted that it will incorporate the hydrogen fuel cell, storage system, and drivetrain into the chassis for the new bus model.
Hydrogen-powered vehicles offer key advantages such as fast refueling, extended driving range, low noise, and zero carbon emissions.
Hu Ti-chi (胡迪琦), director of the department of railways and highways at the ministry, said that Taiwan’s first hydrogen refueling station for electric buses has been established in Kaohsiung’s Nanzih District. The station, a collaboration between the ministry and CPC Corp., has a daily hydrogen supply capacity of approximately 300 kilograms, enough to fuel about seven buses.
Hu added that Taiwan has around 3,160 electric buses and aims to fully electrify its urban bus fleet, totaling 11,700 vehicles, by 2030.
Highway Bureau Director Lin Fu-shan (林福山) said the government has supported several domestic bus operators in developing and adopting new energy technologies, and more than 30% of Taiwan’s buses are expected to be electric by the end of this year. He also recommended that operators adopt AI-assisted driving technologies to enhance road safety.
