Cracow has once again opted for Solaris buses. A contract was signed for the delivery of 20 Urbino electric buses to the capital of the Lesser Poland province. 7 articulated and 13 12-metre e-buses will join Cracow’s fleet in just one year’s time. The total value of the contract, concluded as a result of a tender, stands at about PLN 70 million.
The new low-floor electric buses will soon be running along streets close to the Three Bards’ Avenue (Aleja Trzech Wieszczów). Representatives from public transport operator MPK Kraków and Solaris Bus & Coach signed a contract for the supply of 20 e-buses: 7 Urbino 18 electric and 13 Urbino 12 electric units. These new e-buses will strengthen the city’s fleet of 76 zero-emission Solaris buses, some of which rolled out onto the streets of the city back in 2016. The contract is worth about PLN 70 million. Over half of this investment is co-financed by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.
The energy storage system in the new buses will consist of Solaris High Energy batteries with a total capacity of nearly 300 kWh in the 12-metre units, and of over 400 kWh in the articulated Urbino vehicles. What is more, each bus will be, in terms of construction, adapted for both charging using a plug-in connector and pantograph charging. To boost the bus’s efficiency and to reduce energy consumption even further, the propulsion system in both models employs innovative SiC technology, i.e. using silicon carbide-based circuits.
The shorter buses will offer space for 81 passengers, whereas the articulated units can carry 141 people. All systems and devices installed in the vehicles will be powered solely by electricity. Additional equipment will include e.g. a complete video surveillance system, a comprehensive passenger information system, air-conditioning, USB ports and an electrical heating system. Moreover, the Urbino electric buses destined for Cracow will feature an innovative AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Alert System) system to alert pedestrians to the presence of these incredibly quiet electric vehicles.
Solaris is a European leader in the production and sales of environmentally friendly buses, and the biggest producer of electric and hydrogen buses in Europe. The brand has been present in Cracow for a quarter of a century now. During this time, the manufacturer has brought almost 550 vehicles to the streets of this picturesque city. Importantly, the lion’s share of them feature zero-emission drives. What is more, in June this year, local operator MPK Kraków started trials of Solaris’ most innovative vehicle, the Urbino 12 hydrogen bus.
In the photo (from the left): Krzysztof Musiał (Sales Director, Solaris Bus & Coach), Rafał Świerczyński (CEO of MPK Cracow), Mariusz Szałkowski (Deputy CEO of MPK Cracow).
Photo: MPK Kraków
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
