#PoweredByBallard
Ballard-powered Solaris fuel cell bus receives industry award for innovation
Solaris's Urbino 18 adds the busplaner award to its current 'Bus of the Year 2025' industry title.
The Urbino 18 wins the Sustainable Bus 'Urban' award - making it the third year in a row a Solaris zero-emission bus has been recognized by the publication
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Polish bus manufacturer Solaris has won the Sustainable Bus Award 2027 for its next-generation Urbino 18 hydrogen fuel cell bus, powered by Ballard.
Presented during the FIAA 2026 international bus and coach trade fair in Madrid, Spain, Solaris was honored in the Urban category for their 18-meter zero-emission articulated model, which currently has more than 100 units in regular service on public routes across Europe. The Urbino 18 features Ballard’s FCmove®-HD+ 100kW fuel cell engine.
This award marks Solaris' third consecutive year in which one of their zero-emission buses has been selected for industry praise. The Urbino 18 presents an attractive solution for operators as it delivers extensive driving range for the entire duty cycle on a single fill, while it takes less than 15 minutes to refuel the bus - which the jury also noted positively.
The Sustainable Bus Award is an international competition recognizing the most innovative and sustainable city, intercity buses, and coach models available on the European market, and the jury consists of representatives of leading industry publications from across the continent.
Solaris CEO, Agata Stańda, receives the Sustainable Bus award in Madrid
Solaris' Urbino 18 is powered by Ballard's FCmove®-HD+ fuel cell engine, delivering 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 fuel cell bus is equipped with a modular drive system with components placed on the roof and in the rear of the vehicle. The solution maximizes passenger capacity, facilitates servicing, and provides flexibility when it comes to roof arrangement options.
Providing a zero-emission alternative for urban transport for numerous cities across Europe, the bus can accommodate up to 140 passengers and offers an operating range of 600km. The Urbino 18 is currently operating in several European cities including Barcelona, Cologne, and Duisburg.