Solaris Secures Order for Hydrogen Buses in Belfort, France
Solaris Bus & Coach, based in Bolechowo near Poznań, is set to deliver eight 18-meter Urbino 18 hydrogen buses to Belfort, France, in the second half of 2025. The Régie des Transports du Territoire de Belfort (RTTB), which oversees mobility in the region, will operate the buses.
These hydrogen buses feature a 100 kW hydrogen cell and a composite tank system capable of storing over 50 kg of hydrogen at a pressure of 350 bar. A 240 kW electric motor serves as the heart of the drive, with Solaris High Power batteries supporting the fuel cell during peak electricity demands. The modular drive design optimizes space on the roof and increases passenger capacity.
Solaris signed the contract with the public entity SMTC (Le Syndicat Mixte des Transports en Commun du Territoire de Belfort) in July 2024. The buses will also include advanced safety features such as GSR2 functionalities and a system to detect road users in blind spots. High-performance air conditioning with a heat pump and the eSConnect remote fleet management system will also be included.
This order marks the third recent purchase of Solaris hydrogen buses in France, following orders from Artois Mobilités (four buses) and Île-de-France Mobilités (22 buses). Solaris, with over 220 Urbino hydrogen models operating in 25 European cities, leads the market, holding nearly 50% of the share in 2023.
Source: Transport Publiczny
