Solaris to deliver more electric buses to Opole

The public transport operator MZK Opole has chosen Solaris to supply 9 Urbino 12 electric buses. The vehicles will join the city’s fleet in the second half of 2024. These quiet and zero-emission e-buses will be equipped with a range of innovative solutions to enhance comfort and the safety of passengers. Along with the buses Solaris will also deliver the infrastructure for pantograph and plug-in charging.

For a few years now, the operator Miejski Zakład Komunikacji in Opole has been investing in zero-emission public transport and gradually increasing the share of electric vehicles in its urban bus fleet. At the end of 2024 the city will welcome more electric buses sporting the Solaris brand. The contract between MZK and the manufacturer has just been signed today. It covers the delivery of 9 Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses along with one pantograph and three stationary chargers.

The partnership between Solaris and MZK Opole dates back to 2020. A total of 15 Solaris buses, including 5 electric ones, already cruise the streets of the city. It is worth mentioning that another 8 electric buses will roll onto the streets of Opole in a few weeks. The operator MZK ordered them at the end of 2022. After the completion of the order placed today, 22 Solaris e-buses in total will operate in the city, making up almost one fifth of the whole fleet.

This time, Opole has opted for the Urbino 12 electric model. The buses will be fitted with an electric motor that will be powered by energy derived from Solaris High Energy batteries. They will be charged via a plug-in connector, as well as by means of an inverted pantograph, i.e. one lowered from a charging mast onto the bus roof. The battery parameters and the requisite charging infrastructure will ensure sufficient operability of the vehicles, and flexibility for carriers.

The comfortable interior of the Urbino 12 electric bus will fit up to 29 seated passengers. Thermal comfort will be ensured by efficient and environmentally friendly air conditioning with a CO2 heat pump which uses heat from outside to achieve the right ambient temperature inside the vehicle. The vehicles ordered by the carrier will boast solutions loved by passengers, i.e. USB charging ports and Wi-Fi access. To enhance the safety of passengers, MZK has also opted for an antiviral system using UV technology. Drivers will benefit from assistance systems such as a blind spot assistant and a CMS system that initiates automatic braking. When a radar sensor installed on top of the bus detects the risk of a potential head-on collision, the system goes into braking mode, reducing velocity and thus minimising the consequences of a potential collision.

Today, Solaris Bus & Coach is a leading manufacturer of zero-emission products for public transport. The bus maker is a pioneer when it comes to delivering modern solutions for sustainable public transport, and offers not only technologically-advanced electric vehicles, but also comprehensive charging infrastructure. To date, over 2,000 battery-powered electric buses have been delivered to our customers in 21 European countries, and contracts for another 1,000 units are currently being executed.