CTM's fleet of three hydrogen-powered Solaris Urbino 12 buses are now in daily operation on Sardinia
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The transition to clean public transportation is accelerating across Europe, and the Italian city of Cagliari is taking the lead on zero-emission adoption and scaling up the decarbonization of its transit fleets. With the recent introduction of hydrogen-powered buses, operated by CTM Cagliari, the Sardinian capital is taking a significant step toward a fully zero-emission future – and Ballard is playing its part in this evolution.
Unveiled in the city's Quartu Sant'Elena, the first three hydrogen buses mark a milestone not only for Cagliari but for the island of Sardinia as a whole. These vehicles are part of a broader procurement of 15 units facilitated through Italian procurement body Consip, reinforcing a national commitment to sustainable mobility solutions.
At the heart of this deployment is the Solaris Urbino 12 – a 12-meter vehicle with the capacity to carry up to 95 passengers, which is currently in regular operation in several major cities across Europe including Cologne, Barcelona, and Poznan. It has been in service on European transit routes since 2021 and has an operational range of 350km.
Each bus integrates a 70kW FCmove®-HD fuel cell engine supplied by Ballard, paired with a 30kWh LTO battery system. This configuration ensures both efficiency and reliability, particularly for longer suburban routes where the range and recharging limitations of battery-electric solutions may be exposed.
Ballard's FCmove®-HD 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 solution enhances power, range, and efficiency while improving reliability and system integration flexibility.
Three Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen buses are now in daily operation in Cagliari [Image: Sustainable Bus]
With this addition, CTM Cagliari’s zero-emission fleet has grown to 236 vehicles – a total that includes battery-electric buses and trolleybuses. While the initial deployment is modest, the hydrogen-powered units introduce a new layer of flexibility for operators, with the distinctive operational benefits of fuel cell buses enabling them to match the right technology to the right route.
While electric buses dominate Cagliari’s urban lines, hydrogen vehicles are being strategically deployed on the city’s suburban routes, where the extended range and quick refueling offered by fuel cell-powered vehicles are key advantages.
"The hydrogen buses we present today are the first in Sardinia. We approach them with great interest and we will carry out our evaluations with the seriousness that this type of innovation requires, because we are convinced that the energy mix represents an added value not only for the public transport system, but above all for the environment and for the health of those who live and move in our territories.”
Fabrizio Rodin President, CTM
CTM's initiative is part of a broader transformation strategy aimed at achieving a fully zero-emission urban fleet in Cagliari by 2030. Plans are already in motion to expand the fleet to approximately 290 clean vehicles, alongside continued investment in infrastructure.
As cities and municipalities globally look for scalable pathways to decarbonize public transport, Cagliari’s approach offers a compelling model. Through the integration of advanced fuel cell systems from Ballard and cutting-edge vehicle design, the city is demonstrating how hydrogen can play a vital role in the next generation of clean mobility.