Petrotec Group and CaetanoBus launch one of the most advanced Hydrogen Stations in Europe

Petrotec Group, a European leader in the development of integrated solutions for energy supply and charging, and CaetanoBus, the world leader in airport bus transportation (under the COBUS brand), announce the completion of one of the most modern hydrogen stations in Europe. The infrastructure, located at CaetanoBus’s industrial unit in Ovar (northern Portugal), marks a milestone in sustainable mobility and was fully developed with Petrotec Group technology.

The new HRS – Hydrogen Refuelling Station by Hellonext, a subsidiary of Petrotec Group, represents an investment of approximately two million euros.

The station was specifically designed to meet the daily operational needs of CaetanoBus (a subsidiary of Grupo Salvador Caetano, with 75 years of history dedicated to the automotive industry and with a direct presence in 48 countries), ensuring the refuelling of up to five buses per day at 350 bar. This capacity directly meets the regular demand of the factory unit, guaranteeing the continuity of a critical operation for one of Europe’s leading hydrogen bus manufacturers.

CaetanoBus — with more than 200 hydrogen vehicles already produced — has chosen the Petrotec Group’s solution, demonstrating its confidence in the installation’s key features: robustness, reliability, and safety. This is a testament to the maturity of the engineering developed by the European leader in integrated solutions for energy supply and charging, in the field of hydrogen applied to heavy mobility.

CORE H2 and AXON H2: European engineering serving global mobility

The HRS incorporates two state-of-the-art devices from Hellonext, a Petrotec Group brand: the CORE H2 control system and the AXON H2 multimedia dispenser.

The CORE H2, developed over three years, stands out for its modular design, “plug & play” architecture, and compression and refuelling technology compatible with pressures of 350 and 700 bar. Its remote connectivity and predictive maintenance features ensure continuous and safe operation.

Petrotec SGPS Parque Industrial da Ponte, Pav. C2, S. João de Ponte, 4805-661 Guimarães, Portugal group.petrotec.com

The AXON H2 is the only hydrogen dispenser with an integrated digital interface, showcasing the full potential of vehicle connectivity and enabling a direct, intuitive, and safe interaction with the user.

“This station represents a key milestone in the Petrotec Group’s journey to drive innovation and technological leadership in the hydrogen sector. Together with Grupo Salvador Caetano, through the COBUS brand, we are proud to deliver solutions that enable and accelerate the global energy transition.”

Nuno Cabral, CEO of Petrotec Group

“Hydrogen is today a valid and strategic alternative for the decarbonisation of transport. This infrastructure reflects the capacity and competence of the Petrotec Group to develop innovative, reliable, and safe solutions for critical and demanding industrial operations such as CaetanoBus’s.”

Hugo Rigor, General Manager of Hellonext and Head of Energy Transition at Petrotec Group

“Grupo Salvador Caetano believes in, invests in, and provides hydrogen mobility solutions across several segments, with the development of hydrogen ecosystems being a strong commitment to a more sustainable future, built on energy diversification.”

José Ramos, President of Toyota Caetano Portugal and CaetanoBus

“Since 2019, CaetanoBus, together with TOYOTA, has followed a path focused on the decarbonisation of passenger transport using cutting-edge hydrogen technology. The Hellonext HRS at our facilities now also integrates state-of-the-art technology into our operations and demonstrates the ambition of two European Groups to make history in the energy transition, also within the corporate sphere.”

Patricia Vasconcelos, CEO of CaetanoBus

A partnership with global ambition

Through the collaboration between the Petrotec Group and Grupo Salvador Caetano, two leading organisations unite around a shared vision for sustainable and diversified mobility — one where hydrogen complements other emerging energy sources.

Under the Hellonext brand, the Petrotec Group — a European leader in integrated energy supply and charging solutions with over 40 years of experience, operations in eight countries, and five industrial facilities across three continents — continues to drive technological progress in hydrogen, electric, and hybrid refuelling. Designed and manufactured in Europe, our solutions reinforce our commitment to leading the global energy transition.