Ballard, order from Solaris for 25 fuel cell modules to power buses in Germany

Ballard Power Systems announced Friday a purchase order from Solaris Bus & Coach S.A., a leading European bus and trolleybus manufacturer and Ballard partner headquartered in Bolechowo, Poland, for 25 of the company’s new 70 kilowatt heavy-duty FCmove™-HD fuel cell modules.

These 25 modules will power 15 Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen buses planned for deployment in Cologne, Germany and 10 Urbino 12 hydrogen buses planned for deployment in Wuppertal, Germany, all under the Joint Initiative For Hydrogen Vehicles Across Europe (“JIVE 2”) funding program.

The Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen model Fuel Cell Electric Bus (FCEB) – capable of traveling 350 kilometers on a single hydrogen refueling – was introduced in 2019. The bus incorporates an axle with two electric motors and is equipped with a climate control system utilizing heat generated by the fuel cell module. Shipments of the 25 FCmove™-HD modules to Solaris will begin in 2020 and extend into 2021 to match the timing for the bus builds and deployments.

“Ballard is delighted with our ongoing collaboration with Solaris and we are very pleased to now provide next-generation FCmove™-HD fuel cell power modules for bus deployments in Cologne and Wuppertal,” said Rob Campbell, Ballard Chief Commercial Officer. “These German cities have previously ordered 45 fuel cell buses powered by Ballard. The combined fleet will be the largest fuel cell bus fleet yet in Europe highlighting the benefits of simple refueling, long range and zero emission operation. Ballard powered fuel cell buses in service now exceed 70 buses in Europe.”

Ballard launched its next-generation FCmove™-HD product in 2019. Solaris selected the FCmove™-HD shortly thereafter for the Urbino 12 FCEB and secured its first project for 12 FCEB’s in Bolzano, Italy that are planned to go into service in 2020.

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