Solaris Urbino 18 hydrogen will compete for the Bus of the Year title

The next edition of Bus Euro Test, one of the key competitions in the bus industry, started today in Prague. The aim of the competition is to select the best city bus for 2025. Five candidates will compete for the prestigious title of "Bus of the Year". Solaris is presenting its articulated hydrogen bus, Urbino 18 hydrogen. This vehicle stands out with its zero-emission technology, extensive range on one refueling and comfort both for the driver and passengers.

Bus Euro Test is a prestigious industry competition, held since 1989 by ACE (Association of Commercial Vehicle Editors). It is organized every two years. The event rotates among different European countries, each edition organized by a different member of the jury. The winning vehicle receives the title of the best bus for the next year, i.e. in the case of this year's edition, the title of "Bus of the Year 2025". During the competition outstanding city buses are selected, and the jury focuses on performance metrics such as acceleration, braking, vibration, noise levels, and the overall driving and passengers experience.

Five teams, including Solaris Bus & Coach, are competing in the tests that are just starting near Prague. Solaris candidate is Solaris is Urbino 18 hydrogen, an articulated bus designed to meet the increasing demands for sustainable transportation solutions. Featuring advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology and the increased number of new, lightweight hydrogen tanks with a total capacity of 51.2 kg, the bus promises an impressive range of 600 km on one refueling (based on energy consumption in e-SORT 2 tests), while maintaining all the advantages of an electric drive. The refueling process is swift, taking about 20 minutes, while an auxiliary battery system of approximately 60 kWh provides additional power and energy storage capabilities.

The Solaris Urbino 18 hydrogen, which is assessed by jury members, does not feature a conventional engine compartment, as is equipped with a modular drive system, with components placed on the roof and in the rear of the vehicle. This solution allowed to maximize the passenger capacity (up to 140), facilitate vehicle servicing and optimize the driving parameters of the bus.

Solaris previously won the competition in 2016 with the Urbino 12 electric battery bus. This model won the prestigious title of Bus of the Year 2017 as the first electric bus in the history of the Bus Euro Test.