Irizar says it is “ready for mass production” of the i6S Efficient Hydrogen zero-emission coach after an example demonstrated a range of 900km during a test drive between Ormaiztegi in Spain and Briançon in France.
That round trip saw the coach cover 2,500km. In crossing the Alps, it witnessed an elevation gain of 1,400m and the journey is claimed by the manufacturer to have broken the record for the longest distance ever driven by a hydrogen coach in Europe.
Hydrogen fuelling speeds were tested at multiple stations during the journey, with a sub-20-minute requirement registered.
The hydrogen coach was also presented to different institutions in the French region of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, sparking what Irizar says was “huge interest and enthusiasm for the enormous potential of this innovative technology.”
Irizar debuted its i6S Efficient Hydrogen coach at Busworld Brussels in 2023. At that time, the manufacturer says that the seed coach was a development vehicle, but the builder now notes a readiness for mass production and how it “is already working on various related projects.”
Power is generated via the fuel cell and drive is taken by an electric motor with an integrated three-speed gearbox. Primary components are developed and supplied by European partners.
Speaking about the 2,500km round trip, Irizar Export Director Javier Goikoetxea says: “We are extremely proud of this achievement. 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.”
