The most innovative item in the Solaris portfolio – the new Urbino 12 electric – was honored with the prestigious title Bus of the Year 2016 in Spain. The awards are given by the Spanish trade magazine „Viajeros”.
The official awarding ceremony took place in Madrid. The jury was composed of representatives of the most important public transport companies in Spain as well as by local experts in the automotive field. When assessing the competing vehicles, the jury paid attention to such parameters as reliability and environmental friendliness. It decided to grant the title Bus of the Year 2016 in Spain to the new Solaris Urbino 12 electric.
Emission-free and clean, the 12-metre Urbino 12 electric celebrated its premiere in 2015, during Busworld in Kortrijk, Belgium. The electrically powered Solaris bus can be fitted with different kinds of batteries of various capacities. Solaris offers many configurations also in the regard of charging systems: plug-in, pantograph or inductive charging systems depending on the infrastructure the customer has. Thanks to its unique style, extraordinary performance results as well as low-cost exploitation and most of all almost unlimited functional capabilities, the new Urbino 12 electric is the perfect answer to the growing needs of dynamically developing metropolises.
Solaris was one of the first companies in Europe to start working on the development of fully electric buses and in 2011 presented its first battery bus. The title Bus of the Year in Spain constitutes further success of Solaris on the path of electromobility. In times of progressing climate changes and the necessity to reduce harmful emissions, more and more operators decide to purchase this quiet and clean means of transport. Currently Solaris battery-powered vehicles are running in Austria, Germany, Sweden and Poland. In the nearest future electric Solaris buses will start operation in Barcelona. Additionally the awarded model of the new Urbino has been tested in Paris and soon will drive into the streets of Hamburg and Hannover in Germany as well as in Tampere, Finland.
In the picture: Ana Lopez, Managing Director of Solaris Iberica and Jesus Herrero, General Secretary of ATUC, the national association of city transport operators..
Information Solaris
Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o. is one of the leading producers of city and intercity buses in Europe. It focuses in particular on the development of zero-emission vehicles, i. e. electric and hydrogen buses as well as trolleybuses. This has resulted in the widest zero-emission product range in the European market and a leading position in this segment with a market share of 15.2%. Nearly 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. Moreover, all activities undertaken by the manufacturer are in line with the brand’s mission, which is reflected in the motto “We are changing 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.
Additional information
Mateusz Figaszewski
E-mobility Development & Market Intelligence Director
mateusz.figaszewski@solarisbus.com
