On Thursday, May 23, the representatives of Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. and the Paris-based Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) signed a contract for the supply of the electric bus Solaris Urbino 8.9 LE electric to Paris. Under the contract option, the public transport operator reserved the option to extend the contract to a value of EUR 10 million. This means a possibility of delivering a further dozen or so zero-emission Solaris buses.
The vehicle ordered by RATP is Solaris Urbino 8,9 LE electric. It will be equipped with a 160 kW central electric engine. The energy needed to drive it will be stored in 160 kWh Solaris High Energy batteries. A plug-in connection, through which the bus will connect to an external stationary charger will be used to top up the energy.
The vehicle will be able to carry over 50 people at the same time. The bus will feature a 1-2 door layout. For passengers with limited mobility and those traveling with prams, the second door will be fitted with an electric ramp to facilitate boarding the bus. The interior of the vehicle will also be equipped with air conditioning, passenger information system, video monitoring system as well as fire detection and extinguishing system. Both inside and on the external elements of the vehicle there will be anti-graffiti coating used, protecting against acts of vandalism.
The order signed is another one that the Polish manufacturer has secured with the Paris operator in the recent months. At the end of last year, the operator Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens ordered 18 gas-powered Urbino 18 CNG, deliveries of which will soon begin. The orders realized by Solaris correspond with a long-term RATP policy in the field of reducing air pollution and switching towards low-emission and zero-emission vehicles.
Solaris vehicles have been present in France since 2003. Since then, the company has delivered nearly 550 buses to the country, of which over 100 went to Île-de-France region. The ecology-focused capital of France at the beginning of 2016 also tested a battery product from the Polish manufacturer - Urbino 12 electric, the same model that was announced the 2017 bus. Also in 2016, the Polish Embassy in France awarded Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. the prize for the best national exporter.
Photo: from the left, Christian Weintz, Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. and Alain Batier, Director of Département Matériel Roulant Bus.
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
