PKS Rzeszow launches six hydrogen buses and Podkarpackie refuelling station in 41.3 million zloty upgrade

Launch of hydrogen transport in Rzeszow

PKS w Rzeszowie officially introduced six hydrogen-powered buses and opened the first hydrogen refuelling facility in the Podkarpackie region on 6 October 2026. The handover ceremony took place at the carrier's depot on Aleja Wyzwolenia 6 in Rzeszow. The project required an investment of 41.3 million zlotys, supported by more than 30 million zlotys in co-financing from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Within the total budget, vehicle procurement accounted for nearly 23 million zlotys, while the construction of the refuelling infrastructure cost over 18 million zlotys.

Technical features and refuelling operations

The newly deployed fleet consists of 12-metre low-floor Mercedes-Benz eCitaro fuel cell buses delivered by Daimler Buses Polska. Each vehicle carries up to 83 passengers and combines a hydrogen fuel cell with onboard batteries. The hydrogen tank holds 25 kilograms of fuel, delivering an estimated operating range of up to 500 kilometres on a single fill under favourable conditions. Passenger amenities include air conditioning, electronic destination displays, USB charging ports, ticketing terminals compatible with cash and cards, wheelchair accessibility with kneeling functions, and eight security cameras alongside driver assistance systems.

The accompanying depot infrastructure represents the first hydrogen refuelling site in Podkarpackie and the sixth in Poland. Fuel is transported to the site by specialised tube trailers before entering an automated compression and storage cycle. The facility operates two dispensing bays delivering gas at 350 bar pressure. Equipped with a compressor operating at 40 to 50 kilograms of hydrogen per hour, the site can dispense between 160 and 180 kilograms daily. Two high-pressure storage tanks hold roughly 100 kilograms of gas each at 520 bar. Refuelling an individual bus takes between 20 and 25 minutes, with full storage capacity capable of supplying the six-vehicle fleet for one week.

Fleet diversification strategy

The acquisition marks an ongoing shift in fuel sources for PKS Rzeszow, which operated exclusively on diesel fuel three years earlier. Low- and zero-emission vehicles now account for over half of the operator's active fleet. The carrier currently runs 44 natural gas buses and 15 battery-electric units alongside the new hydrogen additions.

Three years ago, the only bus fuel used by the company was diesel. Currently, we use compressed natural gas (CNG), electricity, and recently hydrogen. Today, more than half of our fleet consists of low- and zero-emission buses.

Service coverage and regional transport

The hydrogen buses will partially serve six suburban lines run by Miejska Komunikacja Samochodowa across municipalities affiliated with the Podkarpacka Komunikacja Samochodowa union. The association comprises 18 local governments and holds 100% of the shares in PKS w Rzeszowie. Routes are designed to maintain transport links in rural and suburban areas that lack direct passenger railway connections. Regional investments led by the union have reached 156 million zlotys in recent years to modernise regional transit.

Today, the first hydrogen refuelling station in Podkarpacie and the sixth in Poland is put into service. This is a huge success. Thanks to investments worth 156 million zlotys, 56 buses have already been purchased and modern transport infrastructure has been developed. These actions reduce transport exclusion and improve the quality of life of residents.