Starting in September 2024 and for a period of ten years, Keolis will be tasked with the operation and maintenance of 14 new and retrofitted hydrogen-powered vehicles. The Group will also fulfil the role of project manager for this unprecedented experiment. As such, it will coordinate the partner companies involved in the project’s implementation, covering everything from the production of renewable hydrogen to fuelling the fleet and sharing the experience gained.
The project’s partners presented this pilot test on Wednesday 18 October at the national transport congress (RNTP), in the presence of Marie-Ange Debon, Keolis Chairwoman and Group Chief Executive Officer, Olivier Bianchi, Mayor of Clermont-Ferrand and President of Clermont Auvergne Métropole, and François Rage, Chairman of SMTC-AC.
A “100% low-emission” fleet by 2035
With concerns such as health issues caused by air pollution, climate change and the cost and depletion of fossil fuels, new, efficient and sustainable energy solutions need to be implemented. The SMTC-AC has been committed to achieving this for several years, particularly as part of its policy of renewing its rolling stock. Since 2020, the public-private entity has stopped purchasing diesel-powered buses and, in late 2025, will be commissioning 40 new battery-electric BRTs. Its aim is to have a fleet made up entirely of “low-emission” vehicles by 2035. This new hydrogen-based experiment is fully in line with the energy and ecological transition strategy set out by the Clermont-Ferrand metropolitan area.
An ecosystem of expertise based on renewable hydrogen
The project includes the development of a local ecosystem dedicated to hydrogen, from the production of 100% carbon-free energy (Gravanches station), to the fuelling of the vehicle fleet (compression and fuelling station at Cournon-d’Auvergne), and the commissioning of ten new buses and four retrofitted coaches.
Line 35-36 – on which these vehicles will operate – is composed of two combined urban routes. It runs between Clermont-Ferrand city centre (Delille Montlosier) and the towns to the east of the city: Lempdes, Mur-sur-Allier and Pont-du-Château. It will be operated and maintained by Keolis as of autumn 2024.
SMTC-AC has been working with Ingérop since the project's inception to provide assistance to the project owner, and Keolis will act as project manager. It will coordinate the activities of the partners involved in the value chain:
· HYmpulsion, a pioneer in hydrogen mobility in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is tasked with building and operating the hydrogen refuelling station.
· Symbio, a leader in fuel cells for on- and off-road mobility, based in France. It equips and maintains new and retrofitted vehicles.
· SAFRA, an accelerator of low-carbon mobility, France’s leading manufacturer of hydrogen-powered buses and a stakeholder in hydrogen retrofitting, will deliver ten new hydrogen-powered buses.
· GCK, a group of industrial companies working to decarbonise transport, based in Puy-de-Dôme, will see its subsidiary GCK Mobility retrofit 4 buses belonging to Keolis.
Keolis will work with its in-house training institute to develop a hydrogen training programme for drivers and maintenance staff. In addition, a partnership with the SIGMA engineering school in Clermont-Ferrand has been set up to manage and monitor the data collected by the vehicles and the hydrogen station, to enhance and share feedback with the SMTC-AC and its operator T2C.
