Representatives of local transport operator Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacji Miejskiej (PKM) in Katowice and Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. signed on Monday a contract for the delivery of five e-buses Solaris Urbino 12 electric. Therefore the 10 electric buses already commissioned by the capital of Silesia will be joined by another set of environmentally friendly vehicles.
At the beginning of the year, Solaris supplied five articulated Urbino 18 electric buses to the PKM operator. In a few weeks, 5 twelve-meter electric buses shall be delivered. Meanwhile, on Monday, the parties signed a contract for another five electric Urbino 12 electric to be supplied in the second quarter of 2021. The value of the contract amounts to PLN 12.4 million (ca. 3,1 million EUR). Apart from the vehicles as such, Solaris is to provide also five stationary plug-in charging devices.
The electric buses for Katowice will be driven by a 160 kW central traction motor. The energy needed to propel the vehicles will be stored in a set of batteries of the latest generation - Solaris High Energy+, boasting a total capacity of 237 kWh. They will be recharged using a plug-in connector and a so-called inverted pantograph - power collectors will be installed on the roof of vehicles, to which the pantograph, permanently mounted on the mast of the stationary charger, will be lowered for the duration of the recharging process.
The buses will carry at least 80 passengers at a time, 26 of them will be provided seats. The 2+2+2 door layout of the buses facilitates the efficient exchange of passengers. The interior of the vehicles has been designed with the purpose to ensure a high level of safety and comfort. The equipment of Urbino 12 electric ordered by PKM Katowice will include, among others: efficient air conditioning, an extensive passenger information system and CCTV, including passenger compartment cameras and a reversing camera. A separate camera has been placed in the driver's cabin. The equipment will be complemented by a set of ŚKUP devices (Silesian Public Service Card), enabling the purchase of a ticket in a vehicle among others, and USB chargers, which allow passengers to charge their mobile devices.
There are already two Urbino 8,9 LE electric in use in Katowice - they are blood collection buses commissioned by the Regional Blood Donation and Blood Treatment Center. Since the first delivery of an electric Solaris in 2013, the European leader of electromobility has supplied or secured orders for nearly 1000 vehicles of the Urbino electric family. They can be seen on the streets of 18 European countries, in dozens of cities.
In the picture: Petros Spinaris (Deputy CEO, Solaris), Helena Ulanowska (CEO, PKM Katowice).
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
