Ballard Power Systems has inked a Long-Term Sales Agreement with Solaris Bus & Coach headquartered in Poland, for the sale and supply of fuel cell modules to support deployment of Solaris fuel cell buses in Europe.

An initial order placed under the LTSA is for ten FCveloCity-HD fuel cell modules, with deliveries planned to start next year.

Each 85kw FCveloCity-HD fuel cell module ordered will be deployed as a range extender in a Solaris Trollino model low-floor trolley bus.

Solaris has signed a contract with Rigas Satiksme, the transport operator in Riga, Latvia, for ten of the Trollino trolley buses. These fuel cell buses will be capable of operating on routes with no overhead or catenary wiring. 

“We look forward to our long-term partnership with Solaris,” said Ballard VP commercial, Karim Kassam. “We believe this initial deployment of ten buses will represent the first fuel cell-equipped trolley buses deployed anywhere in the world.” 

Solaris is a European manufacturer of city, intercity and special-purpose buses as well as low-floor trams. Since the start of production in 1996, Solaris has manufactured more than 15,000 vehicles for delivery to 30 countries including Latvia, where the company has been active since 2001. 

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The Solaris Trollino model articulated bus delivered to Rigas is equipped with a battery. The onboard fuel cell module will engage as the trolley bus moves into any portion of its route which does not have catenary wiring, extending operating range. 

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