Solaris has again won an order for the delivery of its hydrogen buses from France in recent days. Operator SMTC in the city Belfort has purchased 8 Urbino 18 hydrogen buses. This is the third order for hydrogen buses from the French market in recent months, following the contracts for four vehicles for Artois Mobilités and 22 buses for Île-de-France Mobilités.
The public entity SMTC (Le Syndicat Mixte des Transports en Commun du Territoire de Belfort), brings together transport operators in the region of Belfort. The ultimate operator of the new hydrogen buses will be the Régie des Transports du Territoire de Belfort (RTTB), which manages mobility, including bus transport, of Belfort. The Urbino 18 hydrogen will be delivered to the customer in the second half of 2025. These 'Belfort buses' will be equipped with a hydrogen system, which includes a 100 kW fuel cell and composite tanks that can store more than 50 kg of hydrogen at a pressure of 350 bar. Solaris High Power batteries will support the fuel cell at times of peak electricity demand. At the heart of the drive will be a 240 kW electric motor. The bus will also feature a modular drive system, which,
by dispersing its components, allows for better use of space on the vehicle's roof and increases passenger space, as Solaris states. The buses will comply with GSR2 standards, including a system that alerts the driver to the presence of road users in the so-called ‘blind spot’. The ordered Urbino hydrogen buses will feature high-efficiency air conditioning with a heat pump function. Additionally, the buses will be equipped with the eSConnect monitoring and remote fleet management system. This is the third order for hydrogen buses from the French market in recent months. More than 220 Urbino hydrogen models are already serving passengers in 25 cities across Europe.