Solaris Bus & Coach has secured a contract to deliver four 12-meter Urbino hydrogen buses to Artois Mobilités for the TADAO transport network in northern France, with delivery scheduled for early 2025.
The contract, awarded through a collaboration with the Transdev Group and the CATP, reflects a strategic move towards more environmentally friendly public transportation in the Artois Mobilités region. The initiative highlights the push to reduce emissions and enhance sustainability in public transit.
Brice Bonavia, Director of Solaris France, commented on the contract, saying, “There are a number of arguments in favor of hydrogen. First of all, it is absolutely emission-free during operation. Additionally, there are significant advantages such as long ranges, a fast refueling process, flexibility in managing a fleet of hydrogen vehicles and a distinguishingly quiet ride. I congratulate Artois Mobilités on this decision and look forward to our cooperation.”
The Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen buses will be equipped with 70 kW fuel cells installed on the roof and Solaris High Power traction batteries to meet peak electricity demands. The buses will also feature high-efficiency air conditioning with a heat pump and eSConnect monitoring for remote fleet management. They will meet GSR2 standards, including safety systems to monitor the vehicle’s blind spot.
This contract enhances Solaris’ position in the European zero-emission vehicle market. Solaris offers hydrogen buses in both 12 and 18-meter variants and has already implemented these technologies in 25 European cities. The company currently operates over 220 Urbino hydrogen buses in cities such as Barcelona, Bratislava, Frankfurt, Madrid, Poznan, and Venice. Solaris is also fulfilling an order for 22 hydrogen buses for Île-de-France Mobilités.
