Solaris demonstrates two e-buses at Persontrafik 2022

Following trade fairs in Kielce, Milan and Madrid, Solaris is now going to showcase its products in Stockholm. At the Persontrafik 2022 trade fair, at stand C15:40, the bus maker is exhibiting its latest solutions for electric urban transport. Both buses demonstrated in Stockholm, the Urbino 15 LE electric and the Urbino 18.75 electric, have been designed with the needs of Scandinavian markets in mind.

One of the most important events for the public transport industry in Europe returns after a four-year hiatus. Persontrafik takes place in the famous exhibition facility in Stockholm, Stockholmsmässan, on 25-27 October. At stand C15:40, Solaris Bus & Coach is showcasing the company’s latest solutions for electric urban transport. Both buses demonstrated in Stockholm, the Urbino 15 LE electric and the Urbino 18.75 electric, have been designed with the needs of Scandinavian markets in mind.

Solaris Urbino 15 LE electric

This 15-metre Solaris bus surprises with the flexibility of its features. The low-entry bus, with its long range on a single refill and wide range of additional equipment, caters for the needs of both urban and suburban routes. In addition, its extensive range of technical solutions allows for the perfect configuration of the vehicle to individual clients’ needs.

The heart of the Urbino 15 LE electric is a central e-motor of 240 kW. To boost the bus’s efficiency and to reduce energy consumption even further, the propulsion system employs innovative SiC technology, i.e. by using silicon carbide-based circuits. Energy derived from a set of batteries, with a total capacity of 470 kWh, is fed into the propulsion system.

The latest generation Solaris High Energy batteries offer ranges of up to a few hundred kilometres on a single charge. This is, among many other reasons, why this bus is the perfect answer to the expectations of municipal carriers, as well as intercity transport operators. The batteries in this model can be recharged in fast mode, using an inverted pantograph, lowered from the charging mast onto the bus roof. Moreover, the tri-axle electric bus in question is fitted with a plug-in connector for recharging vehicles on the premises of a bus depot.

The Urbino 15 LE electric guarantees comfortable travel conditions not only due to the quiet and smooth operation of its motor, reduced vibrations and the lack of any exhaust gases whatsoever. It is a modern combination of safety, comfort and style. The air-conditioned interior of the bus on display holds 53 seats which offer a relaxing and pleasant ride. There are also two additional folding seats. What is more, two seats in the brand new vehicle are fitted with ISOFIX - a system that enables a child seat to be easily secured. Passengers with children will no doubt appreciate this safe and practical solution.

Solaris’s new electric model boasts an electric drive and innovative systems to ensure a comfortable and safe ride for the driver. An interactive panel with touch screens combines many advanced security functions. These range from warnings that advise the fastening of seatbelts, lights and windscreen wipers that automatically switch on, wide-angle cameras (replacing side mirrors) that ensure excellent visibility, to the active driver assistance system Mobileye Shield+. These innovative solutions banish the problem of so-called blind spots void for ever. What is more, the Mobileye Shield+ notably lowers the risk of direct collisions with pedestrians and vehicles by detecting their presence around the vehicle and notifying the driver about them using audio and visual alerts.

The bus on display features special solutions compliant with “Busnordic” norms and the so-called “Scandinavian package”. With the tough climatic conditions in mind, the designers have made sure that both thermal, as well as travel, comfort are ensured during operation.

Solaris Urbino 18.75 electric

Another vehicle being demonstrated at Persontrafik 2022 is an articulated electric bus elongated to 18.75 metres. The articulated Urbino model is the second most popular electric model in Solaris’s range. The model being showcased in Stockholm is the first 4th-generation model with an extended body measuring exactly 18.75 meters.

The Urbino 18.75 electric on display is one of 183 units ordered by carrier Unibuss AS, from Oslo. It is the largest order ever for articulated electric Solaris buses in the history of the company.

The model being exhibited is locally emission-free, and its 240 kW central traction motor ensures smooth acceleration and silent operation. The expanded bus interior provides for optimal driving range and passenger capacity. The vehicle is equipped with high-capacity batteries of over 520 kWh. At the same time, due to its longer body, the vehicle boasts three bays for passengers in wheelchairs and can carry 138 passengers, including 41 seated.

Similarly to the 12-metre bus, here the manufacturer has also ensured a very well equipped interior to guarantee a comfortable and safe journey for passengers. In addition to the MobilEye system and cameras that stand in for classic mirrors, the driver can use wide-angle cameras that deliver a 360 degree bird’s eye view. This ensures even higher safety and comfort to the driver. In addition, the bus is equipped with a dusk and rain sensor, as well as an automatic device to detect driver fatigue.

The bus on display this year was designed to operate in the most severe weather conditions and is equipped with a special Scandinavian thermal insulation package. It consists of such solutions as, for instance, additional insulation of the side walls and roof as well as of the chassis around the wheel arches, double-glazed side windows and heating mats installed in the floor around the door. All this improves passengers’ thermal comfort and decreases energy consumption on frosty days. In addition, snow chains can be installed on the Urbino 18.75 electric bus, as these are often part of the standard equipment of city buses in Scandinavia.

Solaris Sverige AB

The Swedish subsidiary of Solaris Sverige AB, headquartered in Malmö, has been operating in the Swedish market since 2012. So far, over 650 Solaris buses have been delivered to 25 towns and cities in Sweden. It is also worth mentioning that the vast majority of them, 87%, are low-emission buses with a CNG-drive. The orders landed or executed recently include, in particular, the first hydrogen-fuelled Urbino 12 hydrogen buses (two units) in Sweden, which have boosted public transport in Sandviken in the region of Gävleborg. What is more, major changes are taking place when it comes to the transformation to a low- and zero-emission fleet in Gävle. The 42 CNG Solaris buses that are currently in operation in this city will shortly be joined by 8 Urbino 12 electric units.

The Persontrafik trade fair is being held in Stockholm on 25-27 October 2022. Solaris would like to invite you to visit the company’s stand no. C15:40. See you there!