Ballard to supply fuel cell modules to Solaris buses
There is growing interest in hydrogen-powered buses due to rapid refuelling and long-range zero-emission performance.
Ballard Power Systems has received a purchase order from a Polish bus and trolleybus manufacturer, Solaris Bus & Coach S.A., for 13 Ballard FCmove™ fuel cell modules, H2 Bulletin reports.
The modules will power 13 fuel cell electric buses to be delivered to In-der-City-Bus GmbH (ICB), which operates bus routes in Frankfurt, Germany. Ballard plans to ship the modules in 2021, where the buses are planned to be deployed in 2022.
The single-decker Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen bus is 12-meter long and can travel 350 km on a single hydrogen refuelling, with all modern featured installed for the comfort and security of passengers. ICB plans to refuel its fuel cell buses with hydrogen at a central station located at its bus depot.
These environmental friendly buses would help the city of Frankfurt to achieve its climate neutrality target by 2050, including the achievement of city traffic climate neutrality by 2030.
Javier Calleja, CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o. Said, “Cities are responsible for 60% of CO2 emissions, so it is extremely important to allow the technologies used in every aspect of the city’s operation to ‘turn green’ – including public transport.”
Rob Campbell, Ballard Chief Commercial Operator, said, “With the deployment of these 13 buses, Ballard modules will be powering a total of 80 Solaris buses in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy.”
In a separate development, on 20th and 21st May, the Austrian town of Villach organised an event that exhibited Solaris hydrogen buses through a symbolic launch of testing. The event also focused on the planned purchase of hydrogen vehicles in Austria. The representatives of regional authorities in Carinthia disclosed details of the project “H2 Carinthia”, which aims to create a model hydrogen region using energy from hydrogen in public transport and the industry and building a hydrogen refuelling station. If all goes according to plan, a hydrogen fuelling station will be set up in Carinthia in 2022, with the first buses can come into regular operation the following year.
