The waste management and city cleaning company of the city of Augsburg (AWS – Abfallwirtschafts- und Stadtreinigungsbetrieb Augsburg) is now using its first hydrogen vehicle for emission-free rubbish collection. The vehicle was presented at a symbolic key handover ceremony on 11 June in the town hall square by Augsburg’s Lord Mayor Eva Weber, Environmental Officer Reiner Erben and Markus Engbert, responsible for sales in the Bavarian region at FAUN Umwelttechnik GmbH.
Fewer pollutant emissions and less noise
In order to address the increasingly important issues of environmental awareness and sustainability, new solutions are required in the area of waste collection. This requires the implementation of innovative technologies. The use of fuel cells in combination with the application of green hydrogen is seen as having particularly high potential. This new form of powertrain offers sufficient range despite and at the same time helps the city of Augsburg to minimise local pollutant emissions, reduce urban noise pollution as well as significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Constant recharging of the vehicle battery guarantees range
The hydrogen vehicle runs on electrical energy. This energy is generated by fuel cells that are powered by hydrogen. In this way, the vehicle battery is constantly recharged and the necessary range is achieved. Refuelling with green hydrogen takes place at the Augsburg freight transport centre (GVZ – Güterverkehrszentrum Augsburg).
Funding support from the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport
The vehicle is being funded as part of the National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP II) by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV – Bundesministerium für Digital and Transport). Funding support for this measure is also provided as part of the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP – Deutscher Aufbau- und Resilienzplan) via the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in the NextGenerationEU programme. The funding guideline is coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by Project Management Jülich (PtJ).
Image: From left to right: Environmental Officer Reiner Erben, Lord Mayor Eva Weber, Gerhard Meier (AWS), Rik Frickinger (AWS), Werner Mayr (AWS), Markus Engbert (FAUN Umwelttechnik) | Image rights: Ruth Plössel/City of Augsburg
Source of original announcement: Abfallwirtschafts- und Stadtreinigungsbetrieb (AWS), Augsburg