Bratislava ordered Solaris hydrogen buses

Slovak carrier Dopravný podnik Bratislava (DPB) has decided to purchase four hydrogen buses to be supplied by Solaris. This is the first order made in terms of a framework agreement. Ultimately, up to 40 Urbino 12 hydrogens may be delivered to the Slovak capital.

There may be many more

The manufacturer in Wielkopolska announced that the Bratislava public transport company signed a contract this week for the purchase of four Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen buses. This will be the first fleet of hydrogen buses not only in Bratislava, but also in Slovakia. The DPB has entered into a framework agreement with the manufacturer, according to which the final tranche could amount to as many as 40 hydrogen buses. The production deadline for the first four Urbino 12 hydrogen is July next year.

– Our cooperation with Bratislava dates back to 2006. Over the years, we have delivered 50 diesel and compressed natural gas vehicles there. Now we are accompanying DPB in the implementation of hydrogen technology, one of the key technologies in planning modern, clean urban transportation – said Javier Calleja, CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach.

Miniature power plant

At the heart of the Urbino 12 hydrogen vehicle is a set of 70 kW fuel cells, acting as a miniature hydrogen power plant on board the vehicle. The entire hydrogen system also includes auxiliary equipment, responsible for, among other things, supplying hydrogen and air at the appropriate pressure, recirculating the element that has not been consumed earlier, and maintaining an appropriate and stable temperature of the cells during operation. The fuel cell generates electricity when the vehicle is in use, which is transferred directly to the propulsion system. The hydrogen is stored in gaseous form in state-of-the-art composite tanks on the roof of the bus. The hydrogen tanks themselves undergo rigorous testing and are designed to ensure the highest level of safety for drivers, passengers and passersby.