Albi, june 4th 2023
As France’s leading manufacturer of hydrogen-powered buses and a forerunner in the retrofit of hydrogen intercity coaches, SAFRA will be present at the International Public Transport Summit (UITP) taking place at FIRA in Barcelona from June 4 to 7, 2023. This summit brings together public transport professionals around a full program of conferences and an exhibition showcasing the very latest innovations. This year’s event will be the company’s first opportunity to present a hydrogen retrofitted coach, thanks to its H2-PACK® kit, a retrofit kit that transforms a combustion-powered intercity coach into a zero-emission vehicle.
A hydrogen retrofit kit for intercity coaches
The H2-PACK® retrofit kit presented at the UITP show is entirely designed and assembled by SAFRA. The kit enables the vehicle’s diesel engine to be converted to a zero-emission hydrogen-electric powertrain. The diesel engine is replaced by a 350 kW DANA electric motor, powered by a 100 kW (70 kw useful) Plastic Omnium fuel cell. Hydrogen is stored in 6 tanks, enabling 35 kg of hydrogen to be carried on board, for a range of up to 500 km. The tanks have been cleverly integrated into an area separated from the passengers by a watertight, ventilated and secure partition, in order to comply with vehicle size regulations.
The vehicle presented on the SAFRA booth belongs to the Occitanie Region in France, which has entrusted the company with the retrofitting of 15 of its intercity coaches. This vehicle reveals a few aspects of the H2-PACK® retrofit kit, thanks to a clever cut-out, to enable visitors to the summit to discover this innovation.
Retrofitting is of major interest, as it accelerates the decarbonization of mobility by transforming the current fleet, at a time when the new vehicle offer is not yet sufficiently developed. Its cost is much lower than the purchase of a new hydrogen vehicle, and retrofitting is also part of a circular economy approach, since it extends the vehicle’s lifespan. These vehicles are often only 7 years old, and their only drawback is that they comply with the Euro 5 standard. The replacement of the vehicle is thus postponed by several years, and the same vehicle will finally be able to circulate in Low Emission Zones (LEZ) on which it could not previously circulate.
To date, the H2-PACK® homologation phase is well underway. Operational safety studies have already been carried out during the design phase. The completion of all safety tests, including passenger safety tests, is SAFRA’s guarantee of quality and safety for its customers. As soon as approval is granted, SAFRA will be able to carry out the hydrogen retrofit of the first series of vehicles in industrial mode.
Corporate news
SAFRA recently won an award for its “Let’s accelerate together towards decarbonized mobility” program, at the Trophées Hydrogénies in France. This program aims to help accelerate the decarbonization of transport, by offering a package of products and services to provide sustainable support for the transformation of heavy-vehicle fleets. A comprehensive solution to support mobility authorities in the decarbonization of their fleets, making it easier to comply with European regulations on climate issues. This solution includes new hydrogen buses (fleet renewal), as well as the retrofitting of intercity coaches with hydrogen (“circular mobility” to extend vehicle life). SAFRA has also integrated several services into its program to simplify the operation of these vehicles, but also to manage its fleet efficiently, with perfect control of its TCO.
This award recognizes the company’s commitment and values, and its strategy resolutely oriented towards energy transition and sovereignty, through the products and services it provides.
On the manufacturer front, the HYCITY®, our full-hydrogen bus available in a 12m version with a full flat floor, meets the growing demand from our customers to set up hydrogen ecosystems. With around twenty vehicles on order, the company is continuing to grow in order to ramp up production, by expanding its facilities and continuing to recruit this year.
This zero-emission bus will be presented for the first time at the Busworld trade show in Brussels from October 6 to 12, 2023, followed by the RNTP trade show in Clermont-Ferrand in France from October 17 to 19.
About us
Safra, a French company founded in 1955, is alongstanding specialist in the renovation of passenger transportationequipment and a pioneer in hydrogen mobility. The company is committed to tacklingchallenges facing the environment, society, and sovereignty, seeking to becomethe leading accelerator of energy transition via sustainable decarbonization of passengers transportation in Europe.
Safra offers solutions that perfectly meettransportation authorities’ needs for transitioning to decarbonized fleets:manufacturing and selling hydrogen buses, hydrogen retrofits for diesel poweredcoaches, renovation, and heavy maintenance for passenger transportationvehicles as well as a full customer service.
More informations : www.safra.fr