Solaris Bus & Coach won the tender announced by Cracow City Transport for delivering sixty low-floor and low-emission city buses. Solaris Urbino have already become an integral part of the urban landscape of the second largest Polish city, this time however the operator has ordered the recently launched model which offers even higher level of comfort of the journey for the passengers and better working conditions for the drivers.
The value of the contract that was signed today amounts to €17 million. The deliveries of sixty 12-metre new Solaris buses are scheduled for June 2016. Compared with the previous version, in the new Urbino there are more pedestal-free seats and it also offers a much more spacious interior. In the special ergonomic cabin the drivers will find with a seat raised by 50 mm which provides much better visibility. As the cutting-edge design of the new Solaris is significantly different from the third generation’s appearance, the passengers will easily recognise the buses on the streets. The distinct and modern look of the new Urbino has been awarded among others with the prestigious German iF Design Award. Users of mobile devices will be in for a pleasant surprise, enjoying three USB chargers on board of each bus.
The vehicles for Cracow are to be fitted with eco-friendly DAF engines which meet the most restrictive fuel emission Euro 6 standards. An important innovation will be braking energy recuperation. The kinetic energy recovered during the braking process may be stored in supercapacitors and reused to supply electric equipment on the bus. This solution helps deliver even better fuel efficiency.
„When ordering new buses, we have concentrated on the high comfort of the journey for our passengers. We further expect the vehicles meet the strictest environmental quality criteria. It is important to note that Solaris will build and deliver these sixty buses under the EU program,” emphasized Rafał Świerczyński, CEO of Cracow City Transport.
„Cracow is one of our most important customers not only on Polish market, but all over Europe. We are very proud to supply Cracow City Transport with such a large fleet of Solaris new-generation buses. We will make every effort to ensure the passengers and drivers are satisfied with the quality of the journey,” said Eberhard Wolters, member of the Solaris Bus & Coach executive board of directors for Marketing, Sales and After Sales.
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
