Carinthia’s first alpine-ready hydrogen bus fleet ready for the road

The official launch of Österreichische Postbus AG’s Carinthian hydrogen bus fleet on May 6, 2026, marks the first time that this type of system has been deployed across an entire network in real operation conditions. A total of 35 low-floor, alpine-ready intercity buses of type MCV C127 FC LE (12-meter low-entry fuel-cell) have now taken over the regular service in the hydrogen model region of Villach – with this, the innovative VEDS 1.0 electric drive system from Driventic has also been introduced into the commercial passenger bus service in Austria.

Accessible vehicle concept and fully integrated system architecture

The MCV C127 FC LE is a 12-meter two-axle low-floor bus designed as a low-entry fuel-cell variant. The low-entry concept combines the accessible low-floor section in the front of the vehicle with an elevated rear section that houses the high-pressure hydrogen tanks and the fuel cell stack. This spatial division allows for a functional separation between the passenger compartment and the energy supply unit. At the same time, it provides for optimized axle load distribution.

The VEDS electric drive system is mainly manufactured at Driventic’s development and manufacturing site in St. Georgen in Lower Austria. This is especially important for the domestic market and the operator, Österreichische Postbus AG: for one thing, the vehicles contain Austrian value creation, and, additionally, optimal service is available on site. The drive system consists of an HD motor with a maximum output of 410 kW, delivering a torque of up to 3,100 Nm. The motor control is provided by the VEDS 1.0 traction inverter with an integrated brake chopper, which makes the use of a roof-mounted brake resistor possible. Communication with the vehicle control system occurs through the drive management unit (DMU), which is connected to the overall system via a central electronic interface (CEI) that also serves as a service interface.

Successful altitude tests on challenging reference track

The ability to deliver up to 3,100 Nm is especially important for demanding driving situations – and is an inherent system advantage that directly affects starting performance and adherence to the timetable on alpine route sections with gradients exceeding 10%. The successful altitude tests done on a vehicle prototype in November 2025 in the Austrian Alps before the commercial launch made this clear.

A particularly challenging reference route in terms of topography was chosen with the route Kematen, Tyrol – Kühtai (2,017 m above sea level) – Ötztal Bahnhof. The route was completed several times in both directions, covering both climbs with long-lasting high-load phases and descents with pronounced regenerative braking phases.

Largest bus operator in the country as project partner

The first hydrogen filling station in Carinthia was opened in the hydrogen model region of Villach in parallel with the official launch of the vehicles on May 6, 2026. According to the project description, the supply concept envisages an intelligent filling station infrastructure in the future that is designed to meet the specific refueling profiles of the bus service.

As a project partner and the largest bus operator in the country, Österreichische Postbus AG has a nationwide network presence and a wide reach. “We are delighted that our long-standing customer, Österreichische Postbus AG, is now using our electric drive systems for the first time in the MCV buses. We are proud to have such a high Austrian contribution to the value created through the technology used, and this underscores our commitment to driving the decarbonization of transportation in a sustainable way,” says Alfred Gmeiner-Ghali, Head of Sales & Service at Driventic Austria.

About MCV

Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles (MCV) was founded in 1995 by Ing. Karim Ghabbour. Since then, the purpose has remained unchanged: to offer innovative, reliable, high-quality, and cost-effective products and services to global customers. This has made MCV the leading bus manufacturer in the Middle East and Africa. MCV buses can be found on the roads of Europe, Australia, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Gulf region. The company makes all types of buses (touring coaches, city buses, regional buses, minibuses, and special-purpose buses), which are manufactured according to the standards and requirements of the respective markets.

Contact

Sebastian Busch

Vice President Brand & Communications

Phone +49 7321 746 2052

Sebastian.Busch@Driventic.com