Karsan to partner with Toyota technology for hydrogen buses

Turkish bus manufacturer Karsan wants to launch its first fuel cell buses in 2025 – and is relying on a partnership with Toyota. The hydrogen buses will be equipped with the latest generation of Toyota fuel cell modules.

Karsan had already presented its first hydrogen model, the e-ATA Hydrogen, at the IAA Transportation 2022 – however, the e-ATA Hydrogen still had a 70 kW fuel cell on board at its premiere. Thanks to the partnership now agreed with Toyota, the 12-metre bus will feature an 85 kW fuel cell in future.

These cells are to be supplied from the Toyota plant in Zaventem, Belgium. Karsan expects the first H2 buses with Toyota fuel cell technology on board to roll off the production line next year.

Karsan has not yet provided any information on the other performance data of the future H2 buses – it is, therefore, unclear whether the tech values published two years ago for the e-ATA Hydrogen still apply.

At the time, the Turkish company spoke of a 250 kW electric drive system based on wheel hub motors, five cylindrical pressurised tanks and a supplementary 30 kWh battery with a lithium titanate cell chemistry. For the chassis, Karsan held out the prospect of options with two or three doors and a transport capacity of up to 95 passengers.

Commenting on the new cooperation with Toyota, Okan Baş, CEO of Karsan, said that it is not enough for his company to be a pioneer in the field of mobility, “we continue to implement future-shaping innovations, with the desire to achieve better.” Thanks to this new partnership, Karsan will strengthen itself with outstanding Japanese technology.

For his part, Thiebault Paquet, Vice President of Toyota Hydrogen Factory Europe, said that Toyota firmly believes that hydrogen will play a crucial role in the future decarbonisation of public transport. “That’s why we are more than happy to extend our cooperation and supply Karsan with our Fuel Cell Modules, together working towards a hydrogen society.”

MIKE OCHONMA
Editor