BUS OF THE YEAR 2025

Photo: TWAmedia.

The statuette for the manufacturer of the best bus of the year 2025 was awarded on 16 September during a gala at the opening of the IAA Transport in Hanover.

„This title acknowledges both the excellence of our product and our strong market position throughout Europe. We are greatly honored to be a leader in zero-emission solutions, supplying our customers with battery and hydrogen buses”

 

said Javier Iriarte, CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach.

This is the second time that a Solaris vehicle has won the Bus of the Year title. In 2017, the prestigious honor went to the Solaris Urbino 12 electric – a battery-powered bus. This time, industry experts appreciated the advantages of hydrogen technology and awarded the articulated version of the Solaris Urbino 18 hydrogen, which is powered by electricity generated in a hydrogen fuel cell. Solaris is therefore the first company in the history of the competition to win the title for both battery-powered bus and now a hydrogen-powered bus.

ADVANCED HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY

The main energy source in the new Urbino 18 hydrogen is hydrogen. The heart of the bus is a cutting-edge fuel cell that acts as a miniature hydrogen power plant. Hydrogen is transformed by the fuel cell into electricity, which is then transferred to the driveline.

„The small number of batteries and the increased power of the fuel cell in the Urbino 18 hydrogen allow this bus to operate efficiently, even when carrying up to 140 passengers. An additional advantage of the fuel cell is that the vehicle is quickly ready for its next journey. Almost all the energy is stored in the hydrogen. All that is needed to continue driving is to refuel the hydrogen. Once refueled, the bus can travel up to 600 kilometers. There is no need for any additional infrastructure”

 

Dariusz Michalak, CTO Solaris Bus & Coach.  

Solaris batteries with a capacity of around 60 kWh serve as an auxiliary power source, used, for example, during acceleration as well as for energy storage. 

MODULAR DRIVE = MORE SPACE

The vehicle doesn’t feature a conventional engine compartment as it has been equipped with a modular drive system with components placed on the roof and in the rear of the vehicle. This solution: 

• Maximizes passenger capacity, 
• Facilitates servicing, 
• And provides a great deal of flexibility when it comes to roof arrangement options. 

Depending on the configuration, the bus can carry up to 140 passengers. 

> 600 KM RANGE

Thanks to the hydrogen technology applied and an increased number of new, light hydrogen tanks with a total capacity of 51.2 kg, the brand-new bus performs excellently on longer routes. It can cover 600 km on a single refill, while maintaining all the qualities of an electric drive (based on energy consumption in e-SORT 2 tests). Full refueling of the vehicle takes around 20 minutes.  

The Solaris Urbino 18 hydrogen competed for the title of the best bus of the year in May this year as part of the Bus Euro Test. This year’s edition  of the event was held in Kladno, Czech Republic, where vehicles from five manufacturers underwent a series of comparative tests over several days: Daimler, Ebusco, MAN, Solaris Bus & Coach and VDL.

The Bus Euro Test, which precedes the Bus of The Year award, is a prestigious industry competition organized since 1989 by the Association of Commercial Vehicle Editors (ACE). The competition is held every two years and each time the event’ host is a jury member from a different European country. The winning vehicle receives the title of the best bus for the next year, so in this year’s edition the title is “Bus of the Year 2025”. The jury evaluated such factors as acceleration, braking distance, vibration and noise levels, as well as the subjective feelings of the jury, who tested the bus as both drivers and passengers.

Hydrogen buses offer all the advantages of an electric drive – smooth, emission-free and quiet operation – with an even greater range and fast refueling. These vehicles are especially well-suited in transport applications that require long range and operational flexibility.

„Hydrogen is probably one of the most sustainable fuels, and its usage and share in energy mix will grow fastest in public transport in the coming years. The fact that Solaris has chosen to invest so heavily in this technology deserves great respect. Solaris has also managed to construct a bus that meets future requirements in terms of passenger comfort and capacity, driver safety, and a good workplace, as well as a sustainable and environmentally friendly powertrain.”

noted Tom Terjesen, President of Bus of the Year Jury at the award ceremony.

The dynamics of development of the hydrogen economy is truly impressive, particularly in the bus industry. More and more operators see hydrogen as the ultimate solution for their transport systems. Almost half (44.5%!) of all hydrogen buses registered in mainland Europe in 2023 were Solaris vehicles, demonstrating the company’s dominance in this field. And the trend is set to continue.