The city of Belfort, France, has purchased a fleet of eight articulated Urbino hydrogen buses from German bus manufacturer Solaris.
Solaris originally signed a contract with the public entity SMTC (Le Syndicat Mixte des Transports en Commun du Territoire de Belfort) in the first half of July.
The ultimate operator of the new hydrogen buses will be the Régie des Transports du Territoire de Belfort (RTTB), which manages mobility, including bus transport, of Belfort.
The buses are equipped with a hydrogen system, which includes a 100kW hydrogen fuel cell and a composite tanks that can store more than 50kg of hydrogen at a pressure of 350 bar.
Solaris High Power batteries will support the fuel cell at times of peak electricity demand. At the heart of the drive will be a 240kW electric motor.
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RTTB’s buses will feature a modular drive system, which, by dispersing its components, allows for better use of space on the vehicle’s roof – which also increases passenger space.
The Urbino hydrogen buses will also feature high-efficiency air conditioning with a heat pump function and will be equipped with the eSConnect monitoring and remote fleet management system.
This is the third order for hydrogen buses from the French market in recent months, following the contracts for four vehicles for Artois Mobilités and 22 buses for Île-de-France Mobilités.
Managing director of Solaris France, Brice Bonavia, said: “We are extremely proud to collaborate with SMTC in Belfort and to supply the city with the high-tech, zero-emission hydrogen buses.
“The Urbino 18 hydrogen are not only an innovative means of transport but also a step towards a sustainable future.
“Thanks to the new Solaris buses, the residents of Belfort will be able to enjoy cleaner air and modern, reliable public transport.”
Achievements and innovations in sustainable public transport planning will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector
