The Hungarian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association and the evopro group organized in February a workshop titled “The Potentials of Hydrogen Based Mobility and Fuel Cell Based Bus Development in Central Europe” in the Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The goal of the workshop was to introduce emerging new trends and programs on the topic of hydrogen based transportation. Participants have heard presentations both by Hungarian and foreign experts.

The unique program focused on the potentials of hydrogen-based bus development in Central Europe. The presentations gave detailed accounts about European developments so far, and also about the expected new project announcements and potentials for cooperation within the “Horizon 2020” program. The presentations have also highlighted that the Central European region lags significantly in the area of hydrogen technologies, and although Western Europe is conducting mostly experimental developments, the initiatives have been reassuring and the foreseeable results are promising. The presenters have affirmed that only close cooperation amongst the Central European countries can make them catch up successfully, and a good example for that could be a joint FCH-JU bus project.

There were presenters not just from Hungary, but also from Belgium, Germany, Romania, Slovenia, and Canada. The workshop was attended by representatives of the government and various municipalities; by experts working in the areas of transportation, energy, and environmental protection; by investors; by researchers and developers working in related areas; and by professional NGOs.

“Hydrogen based transportation is a priority research area in Europe, and the future belongs to electric vehicles”, said Csaba Mészáros, CEO of the evopro group in an interview for the Economy Radio's “Morning Monitor” program. He added, “the actuality of the topic is in harmony with the evopro group's electric bus concept.  The evpro group would absolutely like to use a hydrogen based solution. After the battery assisted and trolley drive bus prototypes our fourth one will be hydrogen based for sure.”