Krefeld invests in hydrogen-powered public transport

The Krefeld’s public transport operator, SWK Mobil Krefeld, has made a significant decision to purchase ten Urbino 12 hydrogen buses from Solaris. These emission-free Solaris vehicles will enhance passenger mobility in the city located in western Germany by May 2025.

Solaris Bus & Coach has received a new order for hydrogen buses. The German carrier, SWK Mobil Krefeld, has decided to purchase ten emission-free Urbino 12 hydrogen buses. The first three of these emission-free Solaris buses will be delivered to the city of Krefeld in western Germany by the end of 2024, with the remaining seven scheduled for delivery by May 2025.

"The development of hydrogen-powered buses is gaining momentum, and Solaris proudly stands as a leader in driving this change. I congratulate SWK Mobil Krefeld on their strategic decision to invest in a cleaner and better future for the region's residents," stated Olivier Michard, Member of the Solaris Board responsible for Sales and Marketing.

The Urbino 12 hydrogen vehicles ordered by Krefeld will be equipped with a central electric motor with a power output of 160 kW. These buses will be powered by energy from a hydrogen fuel cell and will also feature Solaris High Power batteries, serving as an additional electric energy storage. Thermal comfort will be ensured by efficient and environmentally friendly air conditioning with a CO₂ heat pump.

SWK Mobil Krefeld has opted for fleet management support through eSConnect, Solaris' proprietary tool that provides complete access to the data necessary for assessing bus performance and planning their continued operation.

Interest in emission-free hydrogen-based solutions in Europe is continually growing. Solaris has a portfolio of 450 ordered hydrogen buses for next years and 140 already delivered and operating in public transport in several European cities. The German market is one of the most active when it comes to equipping its fleets with hydrogen buses. Urbino hydrogen buses are already in operation in cities such as Cologne, Wuppertal, Hofolding, Weimar, Frankfurt, Gross-Zimmern, and the Munich metropolitan area. Additional contracts are in progress, including those for Aschaffenburg, Güstrow, Gross-Gerau, Hamburg, and Duisburg.