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Solaris Plans to Launch an 18m Hydrogen Fuel Cell Urbino Bus

By June 1, 2022 3   min read  (527 words)

June 1, 2022 |

Fuel Cells Works, Solaris Plans to Launch an 18m Hydrogen Fuel Cell Urbino Bus

A hydrogen-powered 18-meter bus is slated for debut in September 2022, a true first for this segment: the articulated Urbino 18.

Several contracts have been signed for the Solaris fuel cell bus

With a 15.1% share of the European zero-emission bus market, Solaris shipped 1,492 buses last year. According to Eurotrak, the Polish brand accounted for the largest share of zero-emission buses in Europe between 2012 and 2021.

In May 2021, the first Solaris fuel cell bus fleet will be launched in Bolzano, Italy, after a recent contract for the Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen was announced there. Solaris signed a new order in June 2019, just a few days after the world premiere of its fuel cell bus at UITP Summit in Stockholm, for the delivery of the 12 vehicles). A subsidiary of Transdev, Connexxion, has ordered 20 models in the Netherlands, which is the largest order made thus far.

Early in March of the current year, Mallorca ordered a 5-unit fleet. Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogens will soon be in service in Austria, with BB Postbus, the country’s largest bus company, signing a contract for the delivery of five vehicles in Villach in late 2021. A hydrogen bus will be added to the fleet of the first public transportation provider on the domestic market, MZK in Konin.

Urbino 12 only emits water.

An emphasis on technical specifications: The Solaris fuel cell bus is an eco-friendly zero-emission bus equipped with a high-performance compact battery and fuel cell.

The Urbino 12 hydrogen has a capacity of 70 kW and is powered by a fuel cell. Five hydrogen tanks on the roof and longitudinally above the vehicle’s front axle can hold a total of 1560 liters, or about 37 kilograms, of hydrogen.

Refueling takes 6 kilograms per minute, so filling the tank will take slightly over 6 minutes. That, of course, depends on the technological level of the refueling system. A refill nozzle can be found next to the entrance on the right side. Approximately 350 kilometers is the bus’s range, according to the manufacturer.

According to the manufacturer, a characteristic of this bus is its low noise level and lack of vibrations when in motion. Additionally, the hydrogen fuel cell only produces water as a result of its chemical process. Refueling the tank only takes a few minutes, which ensures the operator’s flexibility and elasticity.

LEDs illuminate the inside exclusively. Using a heat pump, the air conditioning uses CO2 as a refrigerant. Using the fuel cell’s leftover heat, the mechanism heats up the passenger compartment. In addition to touchscreen technology, the cockpit of the next generation Solaris buses is totally computerized.

Solaris fuel cell buses.

This hydrogen Urbino has a similar construction to the battery-electric Urbino. Both the hydrogen tanks on the roof and the fuel cell module are noteworthy differences. Which drive system do you use? A hydrogen vehicle can only be powered by an electric axle with two 125 kW motors.

By the size of the storage modules, the hydrogen-powered Urbino differs from the battery-powered Urbino. Solaris High Power batteries have been installed on the fuel cell Urbino, which offer a high charging capacity that is optimized for in-line recharging.

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