Bologna's fuel cell bus debut sees Ballard-powered hydrogen mobility gather pace in Europe

The first tranche of buses in Italian public transit operator TPER’s new hydrogen fuel cell fleet are now in daily service on routes throughout Bologna, marking the latest milestone in the city’s ambitious journey towards carbon neutrality. The fleet consists entirely of Urbino 12 zero-emission models from Polish manufacturer Solaris, which are powered by Ballard.

The result of a strategic partnership between operator, manufacturer, and Bologna’s governing authorities, the vehicles represent the beginning of a transformative investment in decarbonized mobility that will eventually see 127 hydrogen buses operating throughout the city and its wider metropolitan area – complementing an existing 10 fuel cell-powered units servicing nearby Ferrara.

A TPER fuel cell bus refueling at the Via Battindarno depot

The launch follows the successful completion of the advanced hydrogen refueling station (HRS) at TPER’s Via Battindarno depot, delivered on schedule and designed to support one of Europe’s largest hydrogen bus deployments. The initial fleet will run on a select five routes in Bologna. Additional vehicles will be incrementally introduced in the coming months until all 127 fuel cell buses are in operation, servicing internal and suburban links across the city.

Integrating Ballard’s fuel cell technology, the fleets running on public routes in Bologna and Ferrara have an operational range of 350km and capacity for 85 passengers. Solaris’ Urbino 12 has been in regular service in many European cities – including Cologne, Poznan, and Bolzano – since 2021.

The 12-meter fuel cell bus integrates Ballard’s FCmove^®-HD 70kW fuel cell engine, which is an advanced module for medium- to heavy-duty decarbonized vehicles – offering a compact and durable solution that is easy to install in a rooftop configuration. Leveraging Ballard's proven proton-exchange membrane (PEM) technology, the module enhances power, range, and efficiency while improving reliability and system integration flexibility.

By bringing these vehicles into operation, TPER joins the ranks of Italian operators - including SASA in Bolzano and ACTV in Venice -  that have successfully delivered a complex fuel cell bus launch program with positive environmental and public-service benefits for citizens. Furthermore, this development helps advance Bologna's ambitions of providing 100% carbon neutrality in its operations and services by 2030 - a full 20 years ahead of EU targets. 

In terms of the continent's wider hydrogen ecosystem, there are now more than 800 Solaris Urbino fuel cell buses in regular operation in towns and cities in numerous European countries including Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and France – and all are powered by Ballard's FCmove^® fuel cells.