Central and Eastern Europe Roadshow

The Roadshow organized by CH JU and the JIVE project  allowed  effective  dissemination and increased knowledge and  public awareness about clean hydrogen in transport.
In Bulgaria which took part in the 3rd edition of the Hydrogen roadshow, the hydrogen bus was in Sofia and Stara Zagora. The event was a good platform for raising the interest of schools – of both students and teachers with demonstrations (Sofia and Stara Zagora) and lectures (Stara Zagora)

June 24, 2024: Educational Hydrogen Day at Trakia University during the 3rd Roadshow

The day at Trakia University was dedicated to education and raising awareness about hydrogen technology deployment. Supported by two Horizon Europe-funded projects —KICStartH2 (Accelerating Sustainable Hydrogen Uptake Through Innovation and Education, funded by the European Institute for Innovation and Technology) and HyAcademy.EU (European Hydrogen Academy, funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership) — the event engaged university and high school students.
Figure 22. Roadshow Program, June 24, 2024

1.    Students and mentors traveled to the university on the TOYOTA CAETANO hydrogen bus, which made two round trips on bus line 20, linking the city with the campus.

2.    An “Introduction to Hydrogen Mobility” course took place:
•    The Hydrogen Electromobility Course was officially opened by the Stara Zagora Vice Mayor of Education and Youth.
•    The course consisted of four sections, which provided an overview of the benefits of a clean hydrogen economy for decarbonization, with a focus on zero-emission mobility.
•    It concluded with the Horizon Grand Prix section, where students explored hydrogen technologies through scale models of hydrogen cars, blending education with hands-on learning and fun.
•    A post-course survey revealed strong support for accelerated implementation of green hydrogen in transport, with 69% of the participants supporting the use of green hydrogen in mobility, citing its potential to reduce air pollution. Meanwhile, 25% highlighted the increased efficiency of using renewable energy, and 6% prioritized the convenience of quick refueling and long driving range on a single refuel. The last point is understandable, as most of the students are not yet drivers.

3.    The educational day continued with outdoor demonstrations, showcasing hydrogen mobility using scale models, other educational kits, and electrochemical experiments.

4.    The hydrogen bus later transported the students back to town, reinforcing the practical benefits of hydrogen technology.