More hydrogen-powered Solaris buses in the Netherlands!
Representatives of Solaris Bus & Coach and Dutch public transport operator Arriva Netherlands have signed a contract for the delivery of ten Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen buses. Under the agreement, deliveries of the 12-metre hydrogen-powered buses to the province of Gelderland will be completed by the end of this year. Arriva will begin operating the buses in December 2021 in the Achterhoek region and the cities of Zutphen and Apeldoorn.
Walerian Majewski ·
Gelderland is the largest province in the Netherlands, located in the east-central part of the country. Soon, residents of this region, home to around two million people, will be able to travel on some of the most innovative and environmentally friendly buses available on the market. At the end of last year, the Gelderland Provincial Executive announced its participation in the European JIVE2 programme (Joint Initiative for Hydrogen Vehicles Across Europe), which focuses on promoting zero-emission public transport. The aim is to increase the number of hydrogen-powered buses in public transport, partly through subsidies of €148,000 per bus. Across Europe, the programme provides subsidies for 152 buses in 14 European regions. Ten 12-metre hydrogen-powered Solaris buses will replace existing diesel buses and cover a combined distance of more than one million kilometres annually. The vehicles will be delivered to Gelderland by the end of 2021.
Solaris hydrogen buses are quiet, completely emission-free at the point of use, and technologically advanced vehicles. They are powered by energy generated in a fuel cell, where the only by-products of the chemical reaction are heat and water vapour. The electricity produced through the reverse process of water electrolysis is then supplied directly to the drive system, consisting of an axle with integrated electric motors. In addition, each of the ordered buses will be equipped with an additional energy storage system — a Solaris High Power battery. The hydrogen required to power the Urbino 12 hydrogen is stored in gaseous form in roof-mounted tanks with a total capacity of 1,560 litres.
Each bus will accommodate up to 85 passengers, including 37 seated passengers. The vehicles will feature a 1-2-0 door configuration. Passengers will enjoy a comfortable and safe journey thanks to full-vehicle air conditioning, CCTV surveillance and a modern passenger information system. USB charging ports will be available in the passenger compartment, allowing travellers to charge their mobile devices. For passengers with reduced mobility, a dedicated wheelchair space and a ramp at the second door will also be provided.
A comfortable working environment for the driver will be ensured by an air-conditioned driver's seat and an electrically heated windscreen. Furthermore, drivers will have access to a range of advanced driver assistance systems designed to support their work and improve road safety. These include the MirrorEye system, which replaces traditional side mirrors with cameras, and the Mobileye Shield+ intelligent camera system, which monitors the immediate surroundings of the bus, helping to minimise the risk of collisions with pedestrians and cyclists. Drivers will be alerted to potential hazards through visual and audible warnings.
The first Solaris buses arrived in the Netherlands in 2017. Since then, an increasing number of operators and municipal decision-makers have approached Solaris Netherlands B.V. to acquire modern, environmentally friendly transport solutions for their regions. Wil Willems, Managing Director of Solaris Netherlands, has extensive experience in the industry. More than eight years ago, following a successful 25-year career in public transport, he decided to establish his own business specialising in modular conveyor systems. However, he never lost his passion for the automotive industry and continued to closely follow market innovations. This year, he took up the position of Managing Director of Solaris Netherlands. As he points out, Dutch transport operators have increasingly been choosing zero-emission vehicles, recognising that introducing buses that contribute to cleaner air represents a significant step forward.
The use of hydrogen in public transport is a new development for Arriva Netherlands. Thanks to its involvement in regular regional transport services, Arriva plans to achieve a record number of kilometres with its newly purchased buses. One of the requirements of the JIVE2 project is that each hydrogen-powered bus must cover at least 50,000 kilometres annually between December 2021 and December 2024. Arriva and the province of Gelderland have set themselves an even more ambitious target of 100,000 kilometres per bus per year. With the support of the province, the operator has also committed to establishing a hydrogen refuelling station by December 2021.
Solaris hydrogen-powered buses continue to attract new customers, not only in the Netherlands. Since the launch of the Urbino 12 hydrogen in June last year, the company has received orders for a total of 69 vehicles from the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Sweden. With its extensive range of zero-emission vehicles — from 8.9-metre electric buses and the recently introduced Urbino 15 LE electric to 24-metre trolleybuses — Solaris has become a European leader in e-mobility.