Chile
Press Release

Public-private partnership presents first hydrogen bus made in Chile

Bnamericas
Public-private partnership presents first hydrogen bus made in Chile

This is an automated translation of the original release published in Spanish.

PRESS RELEASE from Colbún and Anglo American
December 11, 2024

• The event was led by the President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric Font, and three of his ministers.
• The project - developed by Anglo American, Colbún and Reborn Electric Motors, with the collaboration of the National Piloting Center and Fundación Chile - has financing from Corfo through the Innova Chile Committee.

Rancagua, December 11, 2024. The first hydrogen bus made in Chile was presented at a ceremony held at the Reborn Electric Motors factory in Rancagua. The event was led by the President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric Font, government authorities and representatives of all the promoting institutions, who agreed to highlight this achievement as a milestone on the road to more sustainable mobility and an example of the potential of public-private partnerships.

The initiative is led by Anglo American, Colbún and Reborn Electric Motors, and has the support of Corfo's Crea y Valida financing line - through its Innova Chile Committee and the Sustainable Productive Development (DPS) program, led by the Ministry of Economy with resources from Corfo - in addition to the collaboration of Fundación Chile and the National Piloting Center (CNP).

The project seeks to explore new alternatives for the use of zero-emission fuels, promote manufacturing activities associated with the hydrogen value chain and support the development of startups in the industrial sector in Chile.

The process began in December 2023 and culminates with the development and construction of an innovative vehicle that sets a precedent for hydrogen-based electromobility in the country.

The president – together with the minister of transport and telecommunications, Juan Carlos Muñoz; the minister of mining, Aurora Williams; and the minister of energy, Diego Pardow – took a tour on the bus within the venue.

“This first hydrogen bus is an example of the concrete results of what is being generated from the National Strategy for Sustainable Productive Development for Chile. We have an unprecedented window of opportunity, the energy transformation, not only for Chile but for the world. Here, as in many areas, there is a virtuous synergy. Public-private collaboration allows us to better take advantage of Chile's great potential. Our country can grow more than the forecasts estimate and can develop in an inclusive and sustainable way under the auspices of the energy transformation that the world needs. We are strategic allies on this path,” said the President.

After unveiling the bus, the President added that it “is a tangible example of the path we must and can take as a country; more protection for the environment and well-being for families, more productivity, efficiency and added value for our economy. That is what we want for Chile.”

The President's words were echoed by Patricio Hidalgo, CEO of Anglo American in Chile, who highlighted the impact of this project in environmental and social terms: “I feel very proud to be part, as Anglo American, of this emblematic milestone that is happening today: we are launching the first hydrogen bus built in Chile, thanks to public-private collaboration. This launch is an invitation to the optimism that we should have as Chileans and to show the world what we are capable of.”

For his part, José Ignacio Escobar, CEO of Colbún, praised the project's ability to transform electromobility: “This first H2 bus made in Chile is a starting point in one of Colbún's dreams of driving other industries towards sustainable development, just as we have done in the electrical sector over the past 38 years. Thanks to public-private collaboration, and to all the partners who participated in this project, we are showing that from Chile we can be a benchmark not only in energy transition, but also in sustainable mobility.”

Ricardo Repenning, co-founder and CTO of Reborn Electric Motors, added: “For Reborn, a Chilean startup developed in the O'Higgins Region, this project opens a new line of business with the use of hydrogen for sustainable transportation. The result of this public-private partnership demonstrates our rapid and effective capacity to develop new technologies, in addition to enabling the development of human capital in Chile that knows how to work with hydrogen.”

For Corfo's Executive Vice President, José Miguel Benavente, "this initiative shows the essence of the work we do at Corfo: high-impact, scalable technological solutions from regions other than the Metropolitan Region, which allows us to recover the manufacturing and industrial potential we want for Chile in relevant challenges such as decarbonization."

About the bus

The construction of the bus involved a total investment of US$750,000, financed in equal parts by Anglo American, Colbún and Corfo. The vehicle, designed, developed and manufactured entirely in the country, consolidates Chile's leadership in the energy transition and the development of innovative technologies.

It has capacity for 30 passengers, a range of 600 kilometres (H2 + battery) and reaches a maximum speed of 90km/h. Its design makes it suitable for operating in various environments, whether urban, industrial or rural, standing out for its versatility and zero-emission impact.

One of the vehicle’s main components is its hydrogen fuel cell, which acts as the heart of the system, converting the chemical energy stored in hydrogen into electricity. This electricity is used to power the bus’s electric motors, eliminating the need for an internal combustion engine and reducing water vapor emissions. The fuel cell, integrated into the vehicle’s design, is configured to operate efficiently and safely, providing the energy needed for its operation.

The vehicle will not only operate on public roads, after being approved and obtaining permits, but will also be used for educational activities in Chilean schools and universities, promoting technology transfer and laying the foundations for the scalability of this type of development.

This project is part of the strengthening of R&D to promote the deployment of green hydrogen, highlighting both the environmental benefits of this fuel and the abundant resources that Chile has for its development. In addition, it represents a concrete step in the National Green Hydrogen Strategy, positioning the country as a benchmark in energy innovation and sustainable mobility.

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