Commune of Rzeczyca to receive a new school e-bus

Rzeczyca will be the 9th commune to boast a zero-emission Solaris e-bus to transport children and youngsters to school. Rzeczyca has received a subsidy for the purchase of a school e-bus, along with the charging infrastructure, as part of the 2nd edition of the “Kangaroo: A Safe and Environmentally Friendly Way to School” programme, financed by the NFOŚiGW (the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management).

At the beginning of December last year Solaris announced it had submitted the best bid for school e-buses in five communes: Działoszyce, Krasnopol, Pałecznica, Przedecz and Troszyn. Earlier, as part of the pilot edition of the “Kangaroo” programme, the manufacturer had delivered similar e-buses, for the transportation of school children, to the communes of Bielany, Godzianów and Gręboszów. Rzeczyca, located near the town of Tomaszów Mazowiecki, will be the 9th commune to receive a Solaris school e-bus. Along with the vehicle, the manufacturer will deliver the requisite charging infrastructure.

The bus destined for Rzeczyca will be painted orange as yellow and orange are typical colours for school buses in Poland. The front and rear panels of the vehicle will feature special illuminated signage informing people that children are being transported. What is more, orange beacon lights, that turn on automatically when the bus doors open, will be mounted on the bus roof, in the rear section.

When it comes to the bus interior, it will be able to carry 41 young passengers at a time. Travel comfort will be enhanced by the smooth operation of e-motors that do not generate any noise or harmful emissions. The e-bus will also boast efficient air conditioning. To ensure the highest safety level, all seats on board will be fitted with seatbelts. They will also sport USB ports to efficiently recharge electronic devices and folding armrests to enhance even more the comfort and safety of passengers. Seeking to ensure the comfort of the youngsters, the vehicle will be equipped with a video surveillance and passenger information systems.

The energy for the school bus will be derived from four Solaris High Energy batteries, with a total capacity of over 300 kWh, that will perform perfectly on suburban routes ensuring a suitable vehicle range.

As part of the contract, Solaris and its partners will deliver a complete infrastructure-related e-mobility project. Along with the school bus and the charging station, with a maximum charging power of 60 kW, the manufacturer will build a photovoltaic micro-facility on the ground with a peak power of up to 50 kW and an annual production of over 50 MWh. It will use renewable energy sources, i. e. solar energy, to generate energy and thus meet the energy demand of the bus depot and charging infrastructure.

This execution of yet another, i. e. a 9th, order for a school e-bus is unique when it comes to Europe. The deployment of school e-buses yields a range of benefits: the vehicles don’t contribute to air pollution and don’t generate any tiresome noise for residents. They offer drivers extremely comfortable and pleasant working conditions and, above all, ensure safe transportation for school children.

The purchase of electrically powered buses for 16 Polish communes is part of the “Green Investment Scheme – Kangaroo: A Safe and Environmentally Friendly Way to School,” a priority programme overseen by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.