Transexpo Kielce 2018: Solaris displays three buses

During the 14th International Fair of Public Transport Transexpo, Solaris will unveil three buses. Two of those are the well-known Solaris Urbino 12 electric and Urbino 12 hybrid with a system made by BAE. The third of the presented vehicles is a complete product novelty of the Polish market leader. The Solaris Urbino 12 LE lite hybrid is a bus with low operating costs and lighter than the standard vehicle structure. Another novelty featured in Solaris’ showpieces this year is that they all feature a whole new design.

Solaris Urbino 12 electric and e-mobility
In barely eight years since the début of its first electric bus, Solaris has delivered or received orders for nearly 350 vehicles from customers in fourteen countries. At the Transexpo 2018 trade fair the Polish producer is showing zero-emission vehicles that draw from the experience of over 9 million kilometres driven by its buses. The latest technological solutions regarding heating, cooling and the steering system were designed to help reduce energy consumption. Solaris offers its customers comprehensive investment management services that cover not only the supply of buses and charging systems, but also ensure the prepping of installations including construction works.

New solutions
Since introducing electric drivelines to its offer, Solaris has been constantly working on technologies to ensure an even better performance. Most of the effort devoted to the development of a heating system in electric buses is rooted in the desire to reduce energy use and to ensure the range extension of the vehicle. To that end producers often go for a diesel-fueled heater rather than other solutions; this one, though effective when temperatures are very low, is far from being emission-free. Solaris has proposed an innovative novelty in the form of a hybrid heating system fueled with LPG. It is a low-emission option, much cheaper than a standard diesel-fueled heater. What is more, LPG tanks are smaller than those applied for CNG, which means their installation is less complicated. 

There is also a new option available to customers with regard to the heating and air-conditioning system where CO₂ is used as the working fluid, which is currently considered the most environment-friendly solution. The use of a heat pump allows to procure heat from auxiliary devices and thus limit the consumption of energy derived from batteries, which, in turn, results in extending the vehicle driving range and ensures efficient operation at low temperatures. All of these operations occur in zero-emission mode. 

Another change the engineers at Solaris are already bracing for is the gradual limitation of the use of refrigerant R134a used in existing air-conditioning systems. Pursuant to EU decisions, by 2030 this substance is to be completely replaced by the much more eco-friendly R513a. Thanks to the efforts of the Polish producer and one of its suppliers, the air conditioning of vehicles made in Bolechowo can already be supplemented with the cleaner agent. 

Modifications have also been applied to the power steering system. Of course, we speak of the electric power steering pump, powered with standard 24V batteries. For quite some time, this novel solution has been a staple in all electric and hybrid buses rolling out from the Bolechowo factory and an option for trolleybuses. This solution results in the reduction of energy consumption – since the pump does not burden the main engine – and, hence, it also increases the vehicle range. Another argument in favour of this design is the variable rotational pump speed thanks to which the power steering force is greater for lower speed levels and it is dropping as the speed keeps rising. Most importantly though, this solution entails a significant improvement of security, since the electric power steering pump is not dependent on other devices where a malfunction could lead to loss of control over the vehicle in extreme cases. 

Remote diagnostics
Another novelty is the remote diagnostic system for electric buses named eSConnect. It enhances and supports diagnostic and maintenance possibilities and also facilitates the analysis of specialist data derived from a vehicle. Buses equipped with a remote diagnostic system will allow the producer to establish a database of real performance data that can be later used to further perfect solutions applied by the manufacturer.

The eSConnect system may be installed both in every newly produced electric bus, as well as in those already delivered to customers. In fact, some of them have already decided to apply the pilot solution to their bus fleets. What is of importance to vehicle users, they can also use the data allowing them to optimize their bus fleet operation. Apart from serving maintenance purposes, the remote diagnostic system will also enable the manufacturer - a European leader in the production of electric vehicles - to further refine its vehicle designs which have already garnered the firm the title of “Bus of the Year 2017.” 

Remotely collected data include among others information on the time and location status of the bus fleet, the updated battery status, the mileage covered by any given vehicle in a time frame defined by the user or the energy use. The eSConnect system allows also for the remote identification of potential defects signaled by the vehicle on the driver’s panel, the monitoring of operating parameters of the system and the generation of statistic data such as the number of charging cycles and the time needed to recharge batteries. 

The remote diagnostic system proposed by Solaris entails quite a few advantages for its customers. For the buyers of vehicles from Bolechowo the system means a better use of the vehicle fleet and ensuring the correct operation of buses by drivers. What is more, the eSConnect gives customers the possibility to collect and analyse data that simplify the precise identification of technical requirements for buses serving on particular routes. 

Prepare for electromobility
To most municipalities and carriers electric drives represent a novel solution. At the request of an interested customer, and in order to help them prepare for the electrification of bus lines, Solaris can draft an individual feasibility study. The Office of Research and Development (BBiR) of the Polish manufacturer is devising the optimal solution in terms of e-mobility, based on customer requirements and a range of input data, such as the temperature range in a given city, needed to estimate energy consumption not only in normal conditions but also in extreme situations, the average speed, the topography of the area the bus line is serving, the number of stops, the passenger streams, the timetables and many other. 

The outcome of the feasibility study will be a report listing recommendations of the best technical solutions with regard to electric buses. The study takes into consideration such factors as the place of operation of the electric bus and the carrier’s requirements. In practice, this means the document will name among others the size and type of batteries, the recommended charging infrastructure, predicted energy use and the battery service life. By sharing best practices and its know-how, Solaris supports municipal transport operators in their efforts to develop electromobility. 

The Solaris Urbino 12 electric on display
The drive unit of the Solaris Urbino 12 electric presented at the Transexpo trade fair consists of two electric engines with a peak performance of 125 kW (110 kW net performance each), installed at the drive axle. The energy needed to propel those is stored in Solaris High Energy batteries with a total capacity of 240 kWh. The vehicle version presented at the trade fair may be charged using a stationary external charger or a (34kW) onboard charger without the need to install additional infrastructure. The presented bus contains 28 passenger seats of which 12 are accessible from the low floor. 

It is the Solaris Urbino 12 electric bus that was awarded the title city bus of the year in the “Bus of the Year 2017” contest. 

Solaris has delivered nearly 200 buses with an electric drive so far. Another 150 are being assembled. The electric Urbinos have covered a distance of over 9 million kilometers for customers from 14 countries. See the most popular electric bus in Europe at trade fair stand E19!