Hydrogen Solaris bus already in Konin

7 July saw the official hand-over of the first ever hydrogen public transport bus in Poland. The Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen bus is being leased by public transport operator Miejskie Zakłady Komunikacji [MZK] in Konin. Thus, Poland is now a proud member of the select group of states that are already using this cutting-edge, zero-emission technology supplied by Solaris.

Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden all can boast that their public transport is operated with the support of Solaris hydrogen buses. Today, on 7 July, thanks to MZK Konin, this group has been joined by a carrier from Poland.

The Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen city bus destined for Konin will cover around 300 kilometres on work days and Saturdays, and about 200 kilometres on Sundays and holidays. The hydrogen-fuelled bus will be deployed on bus routes 50, 52, 54, 56 and 59. Refuelling will take place at a dedicated mobile refuelling station located on the premises of the power plant ZE PAK S.A. in Konin, Przemysłowa Street.

“The hydrogen economy is becoming an area in which more and more sectors are getting involved: aviation, rail, industry, energy and housing. Our company embarked on this forward-looking direction several years ago now, and days like today are our greatest reward and proof that our projects are becoming a reality. Today, the city of Konin is opening up a new chapter in the history of public transport in Poland, a chapter featuring cutting-edge hydrogen-fuelled public transport vehicles”, said Javier Calleja, CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach.

“Undoubtedly, buses equipped with hydrogen fuel cells are the future of public transport. A future that today is becoming reality in Konin. Boldly, but also fully aware of our responsibility, we are starting ‘here and now’ this hydrogen transport venture, because numerous operators and authorities responsible for public transport in Poland are waiting to learn from our experience”, summed up Magdalena Przybyła, CEO of MZK Konin.

According to forecasts, a few hundred hydrogen buses will be cruising the streets across Poland in the next few years. The Upper Silesian metropolitan area has declared an intention to purchase 20 buses of this type, while the city of Poznań has committed to buying 25 such vehicles, and Cracow up to 150 units. Today, Konin has launched this hydrogen revolution in Poland and set new standards for the planning and management of city bus fleets.

Solaris has been investing in the development of zero-emission technologies for over 20 years now. One of them is hydrogen fuel cells. Solaris buses equipped with this technology are actually electric vehicles, the difference being that instead of energy stored in batteries they use electricity generated aboard the vehicle from hydrogen.

In the photo (from the left): Javier Calleja (CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach), Krystian Białkowski (Driver of MZK Konin), Magdalena Przybyła (CEO of MZK Konin), Piotr Korytkowski (Mayor of Konin).