JIVE 2

The JIVE 2 (Joint Initiative for hydrogen Vehicles across Europe) project seeks to deploy 160 new zero emission fuel cell buses and associated refuelling infrastructure across 12 European cities throughout France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and the UK. JIVE 2 will run for seven and a half years from January 2018 and is co-funded by a 25 million euro grant from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership (former Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking) under the European Union Horizon 2020 framework programme for research and innovation. The project consortium comprises 25 partners from nine countries. 
 
The JIVE2 project is an expansion of the JIVE project which is now entering its final phase of the project. Combined, the JIVE projects will deploy nearly 300 fuel cell buses at 16 cities across Europe by 2025 – the largest deployment in Europe to date.
 
The leaflet summarising the JIVE/JIVE2/MEHRLIN projects is available here.

Objectives/targets:

The overall objective of the JIVE initiatives are to advance the commercialisation of fuel cell buses through large-scale deployment of vehicles and infrastructure so that by the end of the project, fuel cell buses are commercially viable for bus operators to include in their fleets without subsidy, and that local and national governments feel empowered to regulate for zero emission propulsion for their public transport systems.

General objectives of the JIVE and JIVE 2 projects:

  • Achieve a maximum price €625k-€650k for a standard fuel cell bus thanks to economies of scale – or lower
  • Foster joint procurement processes, encourage manufacturers to develop and refine their fuel cell bus offers
  • Validate large scale fleets in operation and encourage further uptake, showcasing that fuel cell buses represent a viable alternative for public transport authorities, offering the same operational flexibility as diesel buses but without the harmful tailpipe emissions
  • Deploy largest hydrogen refuelling stations in Europe and operate them at near 100% reliability
  • Demonstrate routes to achieve low cost renewable hydrogen
  • Share data and best practice to support the adoption of the technology and provide evidence of the suitability of fuel cell buses for wider roll-out

Specific to JIVE2:

  • Deploy 157 fuel cell buses across 12 cities
  • Achieve a maximum price of €625k for a standard fuel cell bus
  • Operate buses for at least three years / 150,000 km
  • Validate large scale fleets in operation
  • Enable new entrants to trial the technology 
  • Demonstrate routes to achieve low cost renewable hydrogen
  • Stimulate further large scale uptake

Public deliverables

JIVE2 Fuelcellbus implementation plan - report on remaining barriers and proposed solutions (April 2025)

JIVE2 Fuelcellbus rollout in Sweden, developing pathways to post-JIVE deployment in Scandinavia (February 2025)

JIVE/JIVE2 The potential for hydrogen buses in Europe: results form the bulk analysis of passenger schedules: (July 2024) 

JIVE/JIVE2 Operators guide to FCB deployment (July 2024) 

JIVE/JIVE2 Best Practice Report (July 2024)

JIVE/JIVE2 report, lessons learnt from the joint procurement (May 2024)

JIVE 2 Lessons learnt from the 2nd Roadshow (March 2024) 

JIVE 2 Lessons learnt from the 1st JIVE2 CEE Bus Roadshow (June 2023) 

JIVE 2 Best Practice Information Bank Report 1 (Jan 2020)

Operators' guide to FCB deployment (Oct 2019)

Guidance for HRs consenting phase  (Sept 2018)

Deployment sites:

The buses will be deployed across 12 European cities throughout France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and the UK. Some sites are indicated on the map below. Note that  all specific deployment sites will be added once the project makes progress.

More information about fuel cell buses is available under the publications section. 


In operation Planned

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