A Bosch fuel-cell power module rated at a continuous 190 kilowatts is now moving passengers through Madrid aboard an Irizar test bus, with onboard hydrogen capacity Bosch says supports more than 620 miles (1,000 km) between fills. Spanish operator Alsa is running the vehicle in the capital’s public transit system, with a trial planned to last several weeks. The deployment is the first customer project in the bus segment for the new Bosch fuel-cell system, which the supplier had previously placed mainly in heavy trucks. Routes were selected to favor the long range the fuel cell offers, according to Bosch.
Highlights
- The test bus uses the FCPM C190, a horizontal double-stack system delivering 190 kilowatts of continuous output
- Bosch says available tank capacity supports ranges over 620 miles (1,000 km), with refueling in 10 to 15 minutes
- EU rules require a 90 percent cut in carbon emissions from newly registered city buses by 2030, measured against 2019; other bus types follow from 2040
- ACEA counted just over 38,000 new bus registrations in the EU in 2025
What Powers the Irizar Test Bus?
The vehicle carries the FCPM C190, a compact system built on a horizontal double stack. Bosch rates continuous output at 190 kilowatts and says the available hydrogen tank capacity allows ranges beyond 620 miles (1,000 km), with refueling times of 10 to 15 minutes. On those figures, the company positions the bus for intercity service as well as urban routes.
Bosch says the test vehicle completed extensive testing and received the necessary approval before entering service. Day-to-day operation in real conditions is intended to confirm the robustness of the fuel-cell powertrain.
The C190 sits in the middle of a three-module lineup. The FCPM C300 is aimed at heavy-duty tour buses and trucks, while the flat-design FCPM C100 targets city buses at 100 kilowatts of continuous output.
“The fuel cell is the perfect complement to battery-electric powertrains – even in bus operations,” said Thomas Pauer, member of the Bosch Mobility sector board and president of Bosch Power Solutions. “Fuel cells are especially well-suited for buses that travel longer distances every day and rarely have the opportunity to charge en route. With this trial, we can clearly demonstrate that Bosch’s fuel-cell technology is ready for the demands of large-scale deployment in passenger transport.”
Why EU Rules Are Reshaping the Bus Market
European transit operators face tightening carbon limits. Newly registered city buses must cut carbon emissions 90 percent by 2030 against a 2019 baseline, with the requirement extending to all other bus types from 2040. Air-quality regulation in cities adds a second layer of pressure on diesel fleets.
Fuel-cell vehicles count as zero-emission under EU rules, placing them alongside battery-electric buses as a compliance path. The addressable market is sizable: the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association recorded just over 38,000 new bus registrations across the EU in 2025.
Bosch’s Position Across the Hydrogen Value Chain
The Madrid trial sits inside a wider hydrogen program covering production, infrastructure, and end use. Bosch launched its Hybrion PEM electrolysis stack for hydrogen production in 2025 and develops hydrogen engine technology, supplying components for both port and direct injection.
The company’s mobile fuel cell work also drew national recognition — a Bosch development team won the German Future Prize, the federal president’s award for technology and innovation, at the end of 2025.
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