Spanish manufacturer Irizar has announced a landmark achievement for its hydrogen-powered i6S Efficient Hydrogen coach, completing a 2,500-kilometre round trip from its headquarters in Ormaiztegi, Spain, to the alpine town of BrianƧon, France. The journey is being hailed as a record-setting performance and a major milestone in the evolution of hydrogen mobility in Europe.
The vehicleās route from the Basque Country to the French Alps traversed a range of terrains and elevations, including cities across the Pyrenees and the Provence region. According to Irizar, the coach overcame elevation gains of more than 1,400 metres and successfully logged a stretch of 900 kilometres on a single hydrogen tankābelieved to be the longest distance covered by a hydrogen bus on a single refill in Europe to date.
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āThis was not just a technical demonstration but a true operational test in varied real-world conditions,ā the company said in a statement. āThe success of this mission shows that hydrogen can be a reliable and sustainable alternative for long-distance transport.ā
The journey also served a strategic promotional function. During the tour, the coach was showcased to several regional institutions in Provence-Alpes-CĆ“te dāAzur, sparking considerable interest in the potential of hydrogen-powered public transportation. āWeāre extremely proud of this achievement,ā said Javier Goikoetxea, Irizarās Export Director. āNot only does it reinforce our position as pioneers in the sustainable mobility space, but it also opens up new opportunities for the Europe-wide adoption of clean technologies.ā
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Refuelling times during the tour were reported to be under 20 minutes, enabling a performance profile comparable to conventional diesel coaches. However, Irizar did not disclose details about the associated operating costs or infrastructure requirements.
The i6S Efficient Hydrogen coach, first unveiled at Busworld 2023, is designed for a range of up to 1,000 kilometres. It features a 375 kW electric drive system coupled with a three-speed integrated gearbox. While Irizar has yet to specify the underlying fuel cell system, the company confirmed that all major components are sourced from European partners and that the coach is ready for series production, with multiple projects already underway.