Having formalized supply for a 38-unit hydrogen fuel cell-powered fleet servicing the city earlier this year, transit operator Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) has confirmed the first Solaris fuel cell buses are now in operation in Barcelona, Spain.
As one of the first cities in Europe to embrace zero-emission public transport, Barcelona is now ramping up its ambitious fleet transformation plan and Solaris' Urbino 12 hydrogen model, powered by Ballard, plays a key role in this scheme. The fuel cell buses will run on the city's V19 route and once all vehicles enter service, Barcelona will operate a hydrogen fleet of nearly 50 buses.
With this development, TMB fulfilled their commitment to ensuring 25% of Barcelona's overall bus fleet is zero-emission by the end of 2024.
Both of Solaris's Urbino hydrogen models are powered by Ballard, with the Urbino 12 driven by a FCmove®-HD fuel cell engine and the Urbino 18 integrating a 100kW FCmove®-HD+ module. Ballard's technology delivers superior performance and reliability, and the compact, durable, easy-to-install rooftop configuration provides an advanced decarbonized solution for medium- and heavy-duty mobility.
The contract to supply Barcelona was supported by the Joint Initiative for hydrogen Vehicles across Europe (JIVE)2 project, which aims to promote hydrogen as a viable energy source for public transport throughout the continent. So far, the two-phase initiative has deployed almost 300 hydrogen-powered buses, supported by 20 hydrogen refueling stations in six European countries including France, Germany and the UK.
The new Solaris bus fleet will become part of Barcelona's new 'superblock' system, with designated spaces for vehicular traffic and areas restricted to residents and pedestrians only - creating a healthy, ecological and safe public space aimed at reducing emissions, while encouraging the use of public transport, and activating the local community.