Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. has won a record-breaking tender for a delivery of 25 the new Urbino 18 electric buses to Brussels. It is the largest one-off zero emission buses order in the company’s history. The articulated new Urbino electric will arrive on the streets of Belgian capital in the first half of 2019.
The Polish manufacturer will deliver 25 Solaris Urbino 18 electric new generation buses to Brussels. The contract is worth over EUR 21m. The order placed by the Belgian capital’s operator, STIB Brussels is the largest one-off order for electric buses produced in Bolechowo. The first buses will start carrying passengers in the beginning of 2019, the last deliveries are expected to take place in June, 2019.
In accordance with the signed agreement, Solaris Bus & Coach will deliver both zero-emission buses and the whole charging infrastructure in a cooperation with Schaltbau Refurbishment GmbH. This includes 2 depot chargers and 2 charging units located on the streets of the city and supplied by MV/LV transformer stations enabling regular charging while the buses are in operation on their regular routes. Additionally, the operator’s depot will be equipped with 24 pantograph stations, supplied by new MV/LV transformer station, which in turn will be used for overnight charging.
It is not the first order of the transport operator from Brussels – in August this year, Solaris Bus & Coach signed a frame agreement with STIB which includes the delivery of seven Urbino 8,9 LE electric buses with the possibility of extending the order with additional vehicles. The interest in ecological and innovative solutions in public transportation has just been confirmed by placing another order for a delivery of 25 buses. According to the announcement of Pascal Smet, the Minister of Mobility and Public Works of the Brussels Capital Region, the operator plans to electrify the entire bus fleet by 2030.
The new Urbino 18 electric already operates successfully in Cracow (since the delivery of 20 battery buses for MPK Cracow earlier this year) and Jaworzno (which owns 9 vehicles of this type) as well as it is being tested by Warsaw’s transport operator, MZA. Furthermore, it will soon go beyond its home market as there are currently 3 vehicles for TMB Barcelona in production.
Solaris Bus & Coach is an European leader in electric public transport. The company presented Europe’s first serial production hybrid bus in 2006. Since 2011, Solaris has battery buses in its offer. 2017 is exceptionally successful for the Polish manufacturer on in Belgium – in February the company’s representative have signed a frame agreement for a delivery up to 208 Solaris Urbino 12 hybrid for Namur.
Information Solaris
Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o. is a leading producer of city and intercity buses in Europe. It focuses on the development of low-emission and zero-emission vehicles, i. e. electric and hydrogen buses as well as trolleybuses. Over 25,000 Solaris vehicles have been delivered so far and they ply the streets in 850 towns and cities across 33 countries located throughout Europe as well as beyond it. Solaris is part of the Spanish CAF Group (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) S.A. From conception, to the design and manufacturing phases, all Solaris buses are produced in Poland. All activities undertaken by the company are in line with its mission, which is reflected in the brand’s promise: to change the image of public transport. Solaris also actively partners with public transport operators and provides them with comprehensive support in their transition to zero-emission mobility. Solaris products have been repeatedly awarded for quality and innovation. The Urbino 18 hydrogen bus has won the prestigious 'Bus of the Year 2025' title.
Additional information
Mateusz Figaszewski
Institutional Partnerships and External Relations Director
mateusz.figaszewski@solarisbus.com
