Strengthening its sustainability-focused growth strategy with its 9 different zero-emission vehicles, TEMSA has launched a joint R&D project with CaetanoBus, a true pioneer in the European hydrogen bus landscape. According to the agreement, the hydrogen bus will offer a range of up to 1,000 kilometers. The first prototype of the hydrogen-fueled intercity bus, which will be produced at TEMSA's facility in Adana, is expected to be completed in 2024 with the aim of mass production in 2025.

Placing sustainability at the heart of its global growth strategy, TEMSA is now extending its expertise in electric vehicles to hydrogen-powered vehicles. Allocating approximately 5% of its annual turnover to R&D activities and as a result, securing its position among the world's leading manufacturers in electric vehicles today, TEMSA has signed a significant R&D collaboration to expand its zero-emission product range.

Under the Joint Development Agreement signed with Portugal-based zero-emission bus manufacturer CaetanoBus, the two companies will develop an electric hydrogen-powered coach. Within the scope of the agreement, Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell technology used in CaetanoBus's city buses will be integrated into the TEMSA HD platform, combining the expertise of TEMSA engineers in electric and long-distance buses.

WILL OFFER A RANGE OF UP TO 1,000 KILOMETERS

The hydrogen-fueled coach, to be developed through a joint effort by the R&D teams of TEMSA and CaetanoBus and produced at TEMSA's Adana facility, is expected to complete its first prototype in 2024. The bus is aimed to go into mass production in 2025 and to establish its presence in the hydrogen bus market. The coach is planned to cover approximately 1,000 kilometers on a single tank, depending on varying road and geographical conditions.

So far, TEMSA has added 9 different models to its zero-emission product range, 8 of which are electric and 1 is hydrogen-powered. With this vehicle, TEMSA will increase the number of vehicles in this product range to 10. Moreover, having developed Turkey's first domestic electric bus in collaboration with ASELSAN, TEMSA will once again lead the way with this project, taking on a pioneering role to introduce Turkey's first hydrogen-powered coach.

A JOINT STEP TOWARDS THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY

Commenting on the collaboration, TEMSA CEO Tolga Kaan Doğancıoğlu emphasized the importance of framing sustainability as a business model in the current reality of a global climate emergency and stated: "We are in a time where collaboration and unity are more critical than ever. Our partnership with CaetanoBus is rooted in this understanding. We see this collaboration as a collective step taken by two major industry producers towards combating the climate emergency and fulfilling sustainability commitments. On the other hand, our most pressing need concerning sustainability today is to introduce the technologies we've developed in our laboratories to the world, to humanity. To commercialize these technologies by bringing them out of enclosed, sterile environments. In essence, it's about transitioning from words to action. Therefore, we also find this collaboration extremely valuable in terms of the impact it will create within our own industry.

Adding that the zero-emission vehicle revolution, predominantly seen through electric vehicles today, cannot adequately address intercity travels, Doğancıoğlu stated, "The most significant issue here is undoubtedly the range. Thus, to speak of a zero-emission vehicle revolution, we need to consider both electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles as two halves of a whole. CaetanoBus is among the world's leading companies in hydrogen technology today. At TEMSA, we want to pioneer this revolution in the sector by combining our manufacturing strength and technological infrastructure with our partner's expertise in the field of hydrogen. Alongside our city hydrogen vehicles developed with our sister company Skoda Transportation and launched in Prague in the previous period, we are now integrating this technology into intercity travels, taking a leading step in sustainable transportation."

ZERO-EMISSION TRANSPORTATION FROM ISTANBUL TO ADANA

Emphasizing that the bus under development will provide a comprehensive solution to the range issue, Doğancıoğlu added: "Under different road and geographical conditions, our bus will be able to exceed a range of 1,000 kilometers. In other words, this bus can easily travel from Istanbul to Adana without refueling, or our vehicle departing from Paris can reach Berlin without stopping. This technology will offer a brand-new experience for both passengers and operators during intercity travels. Through the joint efforts of the TEMSA and CaetanoBus R&D teams, and produced at TEMSA's Adana facility, we expect the first prototype of the hydrogen-fueled coach to be completed by 2024. We anticipate the bus to enter mass production in 2025 and secure its position in the hydrogen bus market."

HOW DO HYDROGEN VEHICLES WORK?

• In hydrogen vehicles, there's a structure similar to the cells in electric vehicle batteries. This structure consists of batteries and a hydrogen fuel cell composed of an anode, a cathode, and a thin membrane, which converts hydrogen fuel into electricity.
• In these cells, oxygen and hydrogen molecules undergo a chemical reaction, producing water and electricity.
• Vehicles also have a waste output system similar to the exhaust pipe in gasoline vehicles. However, the only byproduct released by hydrogen-powered vehicles is water vapor.
• The tanks of hydrogen vehicles are refilled at hydrogen fuel stations, just like gasoline vehicles. It's possible to fill up the tank in nearly the same time as it takes for gasoline or diesel engines.
• One kilogram of compressed hydrogen provides energy 11 times denser than gasoline. Since hydrogen vehicles continuously produce electricity from hydrogen, smaller battery packs are sufficient. As a result, hydrogen vehicles can travel much longer distances compared to electric vehicles.

Operated under the partnership of Sabancı Holding and PPF Group, TEMSA has produced more than 130,000 vehicles at its manufacturing facility in Adana to date and has managed to export over 15,000 vehicles to nearly 70 countries worldwide.