RETROFIT

Conversion of diesel coaches to hydrogen

SAFRA has developed a product to support the decarbonization of transport vehicles with the H2-PACK®, a kit that allows diesel coaches to be retrofitted with hydrogen. Supported by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME), this kit is a real technical feat that allows the transformation of a diesel bus engine into a Zero Emission vehicle running on hydrogen and emitting only water vapor.

Our retrofit kits proposed in pre-marketing are the result of the first experimentation work currently carried out on intercity coaches of the Mercedes Intouro brand in the Occitania region.

H2-PACK® retrofit kit

Transformation of diesel vehicles into zero emission Hydrogen vehicles.

The H2 retrofit kit proposed by SAFRA, registered under the brand H2-PACK®, and supported by the ADEME, is a real technical feat which allows the transformation of a diesel bus engine into a Zero Emission vehicle running on hydrogen and emitting only water vapor.

Our retrofit kits proposed in pre-marketing are the result of the first experimentation work currently carried out on coaches in the Occitania region.

Technical description

Basic vehicle

Mercedes-Benz Intouro
Other models on request

Performance

Range up to 500 km
Maximum speed 100 km/h
Maintains thermal comfort conditions in summer and winter
Vehicle size strictly unchanged in accordance with regulations

Schematic diagram

Approval of transformations according to the technical and administrative provisions of the order of March 13, 2020

The main principles of coach retrofit :

Removal of the engine, tanks…
Installation of a new energy chain, in compliance with regulatory constraints
Connection to the existing traction chain
Integration of new computers and software
Interfacing with existing equipment
Approval of the transformations according to the technical and administrative provisions of the order of March 13, 2020

Why is it interesting?

There are several interests in retrofitting a coach. Economic, of course, since the cost of the retrofit is of course lower than the purchase of a new vehicle, but also ecological, since the retrofit extends the life of the vehicle. Its replacement 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 circulate before. Some on-board components and systems such as ticketing equipment do not have to be reinstalled.

SAFRA, a specialist in passenger transport equipment for more than 65 years, is a pioneer in hydrogen and is fully integrated into the ecosystem. SAFRA is a manufacturer of hydrogen vehicles with more than ten years of experience in the technology and its effective safety conditions, and has made the strategic choice to offer its customers the possibility of accelerating the decarbonization of their fleets through hydrogen retrofitting. SAFRA is also the only one to offer a H2 retrofit kit adapted to the Mercedes Intouro coach, the bestseller of the European coach market.

We have made a conscious choice to offer first a solution for a well-known vehicle, by adapting a kit at the cutting edge of current technology. The experience we have acquired on the hydrogen powertrain and connected vehicles is combined with our recognized know-how in the renovation business to offer our customers a retrofit kit approached in a safe, methodical and industrial manner. Discussions are also progressing at a good pace concerning the implementation of a technical and after-sales partner network, in order to duplicate and accelerate the deployment of our solution. Our VHYSION® tool, dedicated to the technical efficiency of our full hydrogen urban range under development, is already functional on H2-PACK®.

The H2-PACK® is an industrial solution that can be assembled in the factory or by SAFRA certified workshops in order to respond even more quickly to mass production demand.