Solaris to Supply 5 Electric Buses to Frankfurt

Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. has just signed a contract with municipal operator In der City Bus Frankfurt am Main for the supply of five new Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses. This is yet another order for battery vehicles secured by the Polish firm on the German market.

The e-bus model Solaris Urbino 12 electric commissioned by the Frankfurt-based operator has been awarded the title of city bus of the year in the “Bus of the Year 2017” contest. The drive will consist of an axle with two electric engines. The power needed for propulsion will be stored in batteries boasting a capacity of 240 kWh. The vehicles will be charged by means of a stationary charger, supplied by Medcom. This will allow to charge the buses with a charging power of 40 kW. Pursuant to the agreement with the Frankfurt-based operator, Solaris will deliver one charger per each bus.

Apart from many technological novelties applied to the drive construction of the buses for Frankfurt, the Bolechowo-based manufacturer has also used numerous solutions improving the comfort and safety of passengers on board the vehicle. The new Solaris Urbino 12 electrics will be fitted among others with an efficient air conditioning system regulating the temperature of the whole vehicle, as well as energy-saving LED lighting of the interior and a comprehensive passenger information system comprising 3 LCD screens. The producer will also install USB ports which will enable passengers to recharge their mobile devices mid-ride. Interestingly, there are ports for each row of seats. The vehicles for In Der City Bus Frankfurt will also provide access to wireless Internet using Wi-Fi technology.

The electric bus of Solaris to be used in Frankfurt will be able to carry up to 70 passengers at a time, with 28 of them on seats. Two additional folding seats will be installed in the space reserved for wheelchair-bound disabled persons and prams or pushchairs.

The supply of all five Solaris Urbino 12 electrics to Frankfurt has been slated for mid-2018.

At the beginning of December the Polish manufacturer received a distinction for its contribution to the development of electromobility in Germany; Solaris received the prestigious title of “Innovation of 2018” in the category “Public Transport”, awarded by German transport magazine Busplaner. The awarded projects were electric buses of Solaris provided to the cities of Fürth and Nürnberg; the buses will be soon handed over to the buyers.  

So far Solaris Bus & Coach has supplied over 100 electric buses to customers worldwide and its vehicles have covered a distance of over 4 million kilometres so far. Among the countries where the zero-emission buses from Poland can be encountered are: Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Spain, Germany, Norway and Sweden. This year the company has also landed more orders for electric Urbinos in: Belgium, France, Romania and Italy.

In the photo: (from the left) Alois Rautschka, CEO of ICB and Peter Feldmann, Mayor of Frankurt. (photo by Traffiq)