Electric Solaris buses open new chapter for public transport in Toruń

On 30.09.2020 MZK Toruń has bought six electric buses of the Solaris make. Pursuant to the signed contract, the ultramodern and comfortable electric buses will be ready to carry Toruń residents in 18 months. The vehicles will be recharged by day using fast pantograph chargers deployed in three locations in the city, whereas at night they will be charged at the bus depot at Legionów street. These will be the first electric buses the city has opted for.

Following a tender it won, Solaris will deliver six electric buses for operator Miejski Zakład Komunikacji (MZK) in Toruń. the contract includes an option of increasing the order by a further two buses. The Urbino 12 electric will feature a range of amenities for passengers and drivers. The buses will be fully low-floor, which means they will be easily accessible for people with reduced mobility, but also those travelling with prams or pushchairs. The air-conditioned vehicles will feature a top-notch passenger information system with voice announcement and video surveillance. Ticket vending machines will be available on deck. Passengers of the Urbino 12 electric will be able to use wireless Internet and to recharge mobile devices, using USB chargers placed in handrails. An enclosed driver cabin, spanning the whole vehicle width and complete with two doors, will ensure the safety and comfort of drivers. This solution is particularly important today, because it facilitates social distancing needed during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Urbino 12 electric are modern and city resident-friendly buses, however, their biggest advantage is that they are extremely quiet and they produce no harmful emissions because they are powered by electric energy derived from batteries. The e-buses for Toruń will be fitted with Solaris High Power batteries adapted to fast, high power charging. What is more, thanks to the electric axle with two integrated engines of 125 kW each, the buses will be able to offer a smooth ride and a pleasant acceleration.

The picturesque Toruń has decided to build a new charging infrastructure in the city. 400 kW pantograph chargers will be placed at bus termini: at the University, at the Św. Katarzyna square near the old town in Toruń, and at Dziewulskiego street. At night the energy in the batteries of the e-buses will be recharged by six chargers of 120 kW, all located at the bus depot.

“I am extremely happy that Toruń has joined the transformation towards zero-emission vehicles that public transport in Polish cities is going through currently. The purchase of zero-emission and top-notch buses is certainly a nod towards the city residents and a clear message that authorities are investing in the improvement of the living comfort of Toruń’s inhabitants,” said Petros Spinaris, Board Member of Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o. responsible for Sales, Marketing and Customer Service on the day the contract was signed.

In line with this signed contract, the electric buses will make it to Toruń within 18 months. They will join the over 120 vehicles of Solaris that are already deployed in the city to serve public transport. In September of this year, the management of MZK in Toruń placed an order for another 8 Urbino 12 buses fitted with Euro 6 standard-compliant engines, due to roll out on the city streets in May 2021.

In the photo (from the left): Zbigniew Wyszogrodzki (CEO, MZK Toruń), Michał Zaleski (Mayor of Toruń), Maciej Wojeński (Deputy CEO, Ekoenergetyka - Polska S.A.), Petros Spinaris (Board Member for Sales, Marketing and Customer Service, Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o.).