Representatives of Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. have just signed a contract with the city hall, for the supply of 25 Solaris Urbino buses with serial hybrid drives. Płock has ordered 8 articulated vehicles and 17 12-metre ones. This is the second-biggest Polish contract for hybrid buses produced in Bolechowo so far, right after the order placed by Tomaszów Mazowiecki.
The supplier of the hybrid unit HybriDrive is U.S. American manufacturer BAE Systems. The environmental-friendly drive allows to significantly reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emission into the atmosphere. This is made possible by an electric engine fuelled with power from a power storage facility. That device, in turn, is charged with the help of a generator using a Cummins diesel engine (a 210 HP Cummins ISB4.5E6) with a capacity of merely
The new Solaris hybrid Urbino 12 is also available as a zero emission version which renders the vehicle similar to an electric bus. Thanks to the installation of the Stop-and-Go system, the diesel engine turns off completely during stopovers at bus stops and the opening of doors, but it turns on again immediately after the supercapacitators run out of power. A GPS has been installed in the vehicle, too, including corresponding software that allows for the activation of the Arrive-and-Go function. This option allows to switch off the diesel engine even as the bus is approaching a bus stop. Various tests have shown that thanks to this environmental-friendly feature the bus is able to save up to 20 percent of the fuel needed by similar vehicles with a conventional drive. Moreover, the engine is so quiet that the noise level can be reduced significantly, which comes in handy especially in overcrowded city centres.
The contract signed today involves the delivery of eight 18-metre hybrid buses with a serial BAE system. The buses will be equipped with a six-cylinder, 6.7-litre and 300 HP engine of the type Cummins ISB6, as well as an asynchronous central motor with a peak performance of 200 kW. It is the first order for articulated hybrid buses of the new generation in
The new hybrid buses of Solaris boast exceptional drive parameters but what makes them stand out is the forceful, yet smooth acceleration. One of the chief features of the drive is its capability to recuperate kinetic energy during braking. The recovered energy is later converted into electricity and stored in this form in energy storage facilities - supercapacitators with a capacity of 0,82 kWh.
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
