A new era in sustainable public transportation was inaugurated in Maricá, a city in Rio de Janeiro, with the first test trip of the prototype electric-hydrogen hybrid bus . Developed through a partnership between the City of Maricá and the Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute of Graduate Studies and Engineering Research at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Coppe/UFRJ), the vehicle ran along the experimental line between the Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara hospital in São José do Imbassaí and the Conde Modesto Leal hospital in the city center.
The pioneering initiative places Maricá at the forefront of sustainable mobility, with ambitious plans to decarbonize its municipal fleet and modernize public transport , aligning technological innovation with environmental preservation.
National technology and sustainability in public transport
The development of hybrid buses, which combine electric and hydrogen propulsion, is part of an investment of R$11.5 million led by the City of Maricá, with support from Coppe/UFRJ and Tracel Industrial . The project seeks to eliminate pollutant emissions and maximize energy use, surpassing traditional internal combustion engines, which use only 15% of the fuel's energy potential.
In addition to the model tested, two other prototypes are under development: one powered by ethanol and hydrogen and the other by ethanol and electricity. These vehicles represent a significant step in the construction of a decarbonized and sustainable municipal fleet, which operates on a zero-fare basis on the 42 lines that connect the four districts of Maricá .
The local manufacturing strategy is a distinguishing feature of the project . The City Hall plans to establish bus production in the city itself, strengthening its industrial base and guaranteeing royalties for ownership of the technological patent. According to Igor Sardinha, Secretary of Economic Development, “Maricá is positioning itself as a hub for industrialization and innovation, with a positive impact on the local economy and the environment.”
Innovation and vision for the future of Maricá
In the coming years, the city plans to increase its investments in clean energy and innovation projects, especially in the areas of tourism, health and education . Cláudio Gimenez, president of the Maricá Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation (ICTIM), predicts that by 2030, the city will be a hub of intelligence and a reference in sustainability in Brazil.
The president of the Public Transport Company (EPT), Celso Haddad, highlights the importance of the tests as a crucial step in choosing the model that will be adopted in the total decarbonization of the municipal fleet. “Maricá is advancing in sustainable public transport, showing that it is possible to combine urban mobility and environmental preservation.”
In addition to eliminating emissions, the hybrid bus offers additional benefits, such as noise reduction, providing greater comfort to passengers . For Paulo Emílio Valadão Miranda, a full professor at UFRJ and president of the Brazilian Hydrogen Association, the vehicle is a milestone in the evolution of sustainable public transportation in Brazil: “It is modern, efficient and does not pollute. It represents the future of public transportation.”
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