The project proposal involves the development of a new product aimed at eliminating pollutant emissions during the autonomous operation of trolleybuses. The innovative product to be developed consists of power units that can replace the internal combustion engine generator sets currently installed on trolleybuses operated by public transport companies in urban areas.

These new products have strong business potential; for example, in the cities of Naples and Rome alone, there are approximately 180 vehicles in service with autonomous operation profiles exceeding 4 hours. The cost of retrofitting a trolleybus with power units will undoubtedly be competitive compared to the purchase of new zero-emission vehicles.

The power unit configurations will be designed to ensure up to 6 hours of autonomous operation, using hybrid systems based on the integration of fuel cells with next-generation batteries.

The project includes the development of the new product—the hybrid power unit—the implementation of activities required to integrate the power unit with onboard systems, the creation of the necessary infrastructure for the experimental characterization of the product, and finally, the development of hydrogen production and refueling stations.

To this end, a partnership has been established, bringing together a diverse range of expertise capable of meeting the design requirements for the power units, their integration on board the vehicle, and the development of hydrogen production and refueling stations.

The research activities will focus on the design of the power unit, the development of the necessary configurations for its integration with onboard systems, and the design of a solar-powered refueling station to ensure hydrogen production.

The entire process of developing the new product is aimed at demonstrating its potential and cost-effectiveness in terms of energy savings and environmental impact reduction. The product innovation does not stem from the development of individual components, but rather from their optimal integration.