CaetanoBus supplies 12 hydrogen buses and oversees hydrogen mobility ecosystem for Porto's BRT system

CaetanoBus, as consortium leader, is overseeing the rollout of the entire hydrogen mobility ecosystem behind the project. Under the contract, CaetanoBus assumed overall responsibility for coordinating stakeholders and integrating all core system components. The scope covers the supply of twelve 18-metre H2.CityGold articulated buses, the delivery and integration of a local green hydrogen production unit, the installation and commissioning of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, and the deployment of on-site photovoltaic systems for renewable power generation. It also includes depot energy management and fleet optimisation systems, the planning of a hydrogen-ready maintenance facility for the fuel cell buses, and long-term maintenance and lifecycle support for the entire ecosystem. By bundling all technical and operational elements under a single contractual framework, CaetanoBus is positioning itself as the central interface for the customer. The project, developed in cooperation with Metro do Porto, STCP, PRF Gas Solutions and dstsolar, aims to reduce implementation complexity and shorten the operator’s deployment timelines. At the same time, the integrated model is designed to mitigate the total cost of ownership risks associated with large-scale hydrogen mobility projects. As a next step in its strategic roadmap, CaetanoBus plans to introduce a pay-per-use model for hydrogen mobility. The concept would enable public and private operators to access the required fleet capacity — together with the associated energy infrastructure and maintenance services — under a fully integrated operating framework. Instead of high upfront capital expenditure, customers would pay based on kilometres driven, following an operating expenditure (OPEX) model.