Irizar showcases hydrogen coach on Alpine tour
To reach the French Alps from Ormaiztegi, a small town in the Basque Country, the vehicle passed through several cities in the Pyrenees and Provence (France). Along the way, the Irizar i6S Efficient Hydrogen overcame an elevation gain of more than 1,400 metres, according to the manufacturer.
The journey was not only a demonstration of the hydrogen-electric coach’s operational capability but also a record-setting run: According to Irizar, the test drive set a new record for the longest distance ever covered by a hydrogen bus in Europe. In addition, a stretch of 900 km was completed on a single tank.
It was also a significant promotional tour: “During the journey, the coach was presented to different institutions in the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, sparking huge interest and enthusiasm for the enormous potential of this innovative technology,” Irizar writes in the release. The tour marked a key step ‘in showcasing hydrogen’s potential as a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels.’
In practice, Irizar reports that refuelling the coach at several stations took less than 20 minutes each time. The combination of 900 kilometres of real-world range and sub-20-minute refuelling stops could indeed enable route planning similar to that of diesel coaches—assuming suitable hydrogen infrastructure is in place. However, Irizar does not comment on the associated costs.
The Spanish company first unveiled the i6S Efficient Hydrogen at Busworld 2023. The vehicle is designed for a range of up to 1,000 km. Irizar has yet to disclose further details on the fuel cell technology. The 375 kW electric drive is paired with an integrated three-speed gearbox. All major components of the coach are reportedly developed and supplied by European partners. Irizar itself says it is ready for series production of the i6S Efficient Hydrogen and is already working on several projects.
“We’re extremely proud of this achievement,” said Javier Goikoetxea, Irizar’s Export Director. “Not only does it reinforce our position as pioneers in the sustainable mobility space, but it also opens up new opportunities for the Europe-wide adoption of clean technologies.”
0 Comments