In recent days Solaris has signed contracts for the delivery of electric buses with public transport operators from Jaworzno and Cracow, Poland. Jaworzno City Transport (PKM) ordered 22 battery-powered Urbino, while the municipal company from Cracow decided to purchase 20 electric Solaris buses. Nearly half of the contracted vehicles are the new Urbino 12 electric, named Bus of the Year 2017.
In September 2016, Solaris Bus & Coach signed a contract for delivery of electric buses to Jaworzno City Transport (PKM Jaworzno). In 2017, nine 18-metre and three 12-metre new generation Urbino buses, as well as four 8.9-meter midi-class vehicles will roll out onto the streets of Jaworzno. Meanwhile in September, the operator selected the preferred bidder in a tender for delivery of further zero-emission vehicles. It follows that in the second half of 2017 the total number of Solaris electric buses operated in Jaworzno will increase to 23. This means that as much as one third of city’s fleet will be battery-powered.
The first electric bus in Jaworzno started regular operations in spring 2015. Since then the 12-metre Urbino electric has covered a distance of over 120,000 km. Each of the newly ordered electric buses will offer a pantograph charging system, which allows to recharge batteries on the route, as well as a plug-in coupling which will be used to recharge the battery at night using a stationary charging system located in the bus depot. Passengers of the battery-powered vehicles as well as the drivers will benefit from the separate air conditioning devices of the passenger compartment and the cabin.
On October 11th, during the press conference at International Fair of Public Transport TRANSEXPO Solaris Bus & Coach signed an agreement for delivery of 20 electric buses to Cracow City Transport (MPK). The order includes 17 zero-emission new Urbinos 12 and 3 articulated models of the new generation.
Two charging systems are to be installed in the buses: one using a pantograph mounted on the roof, the other one using a plug-in for charging in the bus depot. All the vehicles for Cracow are to be low-floor and air-conditioned. Moreover, they will be equipped with such solutions as ticket machines offering the possibility to pay both with card and cash, modern passenger information system as well as CCTV monitoring system. Cracow is the first Polish city to have a bus line operated only with electric buses. Currently there are five Solaris battery-powered buses operating the zero-emission route.
Solaris has presented its first fully electric buses in 2011. Since then over 100 battery-powered vehicles have been purchased by the operators from Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Spain, Sweden and Poland. They are equipped with various types of batteries and have different charging systems: plug-in, pantograph or induction coil. The solutions applied in the vehicles depend on the infrastructure the customer has. The most innovative item in manufacturer’s portfolio, the new Urbino 12 electric with pantograph charging system, has been recently honoured with the prestigious title Bus of the Year 2017 title.
In the picture: Dariusz Michalak Deputy CEO of Solaris, Andreas Strecker CEO of Solaris, Tadeusz Trzmiel Deputy Mayor of Cracow, Solange Olszewska Owner, Zbigniew Nosal CEO of Jaworzno City Transport (MPK), Rafał Świerczyński CEO of Cracow City Transport (MPK)
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
