Going Green: Hydrogen Buses Revolutionize Local Public Transport in Alto Adige and Emilia-Romagna
Hydrogen Bus Fleets Expand on Roads in TPL, Bologna, and Bolzano
Sassa (Bolzano) and Tper (Bologna and Ferrara) are leading the charge in the energy transition for local public transport (LPT) with investments in hydrogen bus fleets. Here's the dirty lowdown on these pioneering transport companies.
Sassa, the main LPT operator in Alto Adige, is positioned at the forefront of the eco-revolution with a workforce of nearly 600, managing 80 lines, and covering over 15 million kilometers annually. Their commitment to a carbon-neutral future is evident in their diverse fleet, consisting of over 400 vehicles, 40 of which are zero-emission.
The Solaris Gig: Sassa's Steps Towards a Greener Future
In 2013, Sassa backed the hydrogen technology bandwagon, introducing five Solaris H2 buses into their fleet through the Clean Hydrogen European Cities (Chic) project. Since then, they've doubled down on their investment, boasting a hydrogen fleet that is set to grow to 25 buses soon.
In pursuit of a greener future, Sassa has earmarked around 30 million euros, part of which is funded by PNRR funds, for the expansion of their existing hydrogen refueling station in Bolzano and the construction of a new one in the Merano depot. They're also working on the Hydrogen Valley project with Alperia for the development of a hydrogen production site in Bolzano Sud.
Tper's Eco-Crusade: A Cleaner, Greener Future for Emilia-Romagna
Tper, the largest LPT company in Emilia-Romagna, has been working towards a cleaner, greener future for some time now. Controlled by the Region with 46.13% of the shares and the Municipality of Bologna with 30.11%, Tper plans investments of over 430 million euros in innovation and sustainable mobility by 2030.
With the arrival of Solaris hydrogen buses in February 2021, Tper is expanding its eco-friendly transportation solutions. By 2026, they aim to have 127 hydrogen buses in Bologna and 10 in Ferrara. These buses, which are also present in Venice, Modena, Mantua, and Pescara, generate electricity using hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen in the presence of a catalyst, producing pure water vapor as the only emission.
From an ecological perspective, these hydrogen buses are entirely zero-emission. On the production front, Solaris and Iveco Bus are market leaders in Italy for the sale of zero-emission buses, covering approximately one-third of national demand in 2024.
Stay tuned, folks, as these eco-friendly, zero-emission buses are just the tip of the iceberg in the global push towards cleaner transportation options!
- The industry of public-transit has been revolutionized in Alto Adige and Emilia-Romagna, with companies like Sassa and Tper implementing sustainable living practices in their operations by investing in hydrogen bus fleets.
- As part of their commitment to a sustainable lifestyle, Sassa, a major player in local public transport, has invested in Solaris hydrogen buses, with plans to expand their hydrogen fleet to 25 vehicles soon.
- In the financial sector, Sassa has allocated around 30 million euros for the expansion of their hydrogen refueling stations and the development of a hydrogen production site.
- In the home-and-garden sector, the advancements in zero-emission transportation, such as hydrogen buses, contribute to a greener living environment by producing pure water vapor as the only emission, thus reducing carbon footprints.
