Solaris To Reveal New Electric Bus At Trade Show

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

---

Here at CleanTechnica, we’ve written a lot of articles over the years about Solaris. Why? Because it makes electric buses, and electric buses are great for municipalities.

Electric buses are known for their economical operations and maintenance as they outperform diesel buses in cost efficiency. Additionally, these vehicles do not emit any pollutants, making them a reliable solution for pollution-free transportation. Riders experience a comfortable and noiseless commute due to the vehicle’s smooth operation. While these buses were largely unknown a decade ago, the decreasing price of batteries has made them a more realistic option for many city transit agencies.

With the declining cost and rising benefits of electric buses, it’s no surprise that their sales have skyrocketed in recent years, becoming the top choice in most cases. In urban areas across Europe, only 15 electric buses were deployed in 2012, but in 2021, every fourth newly registered bus in Western Europe was electric. These vehicles are now becoming ubiquitous on many routes and proving to be an advantageous addition to public transit systems.

Solaris embarked on its foray into battery-powered vehicles back in 2011 with the launch of its first Urbino electric bus, measuring 8.9 meters. Following its success, the Urbino 12 electric bus went into production in 2012, while the company unveiled the Urbino 18 bi-articulated electric bus in 2013. The launch of the Urbino 24 electric in 2019 contributed to the development of a platform for bi-articulated buses. Solaris made headlines again in 2020, featuring its first-ever intercity e-bus, the Urbino 15 LE electric. Most recently, Solaris introduced the Urbino 9 LE electrical in 2021, the latest in the company’s line of electric buses.

Currently, Solaris produces approximately 1500 buses annually, and nearly half of the company’s production output comprises electric drives. Over the years, there has been a noticeable increase in the demand for alternative power sources among purchase orders, indicating a growing number of cities embracing zero-emission transportation. Solaris has contributed significantly to the transition towards an electric bus industry, having sold and delivered over 2000 e-buses thus far.

Throughout its journey, Solaris has pioneered several innovative solutions in public transportation. In 2021, the company’s Solaris Urbino 15 LE Electric Bus received the prestigious Sustainable Bus Award, recognizing the vehicle’s outstanding contribution to sustainable public transport. The award program, designed to raise awareness for the importance of developing eco-friendly public transit, is an international competition that emphasizes the pivotal role of buses and coaches in preventing climate change. Solaris’ achievement in this realm highlights its commitment to developing innovative solutions and sustainable practices in public transportation.

In addition to its groundbreaking electric buses, Solaris has developed an innovative solution for charging these vehicles. The company’s new EV Charging Park serves as a testing ground for various electric bus charging technologies. The Charging Park will occupy a vast 5,000 square meters, featuring four covered parking stands equipped with the principal charger and a technological center.

Notably, Solaris’s Charging Park will be the first bidirectional facility of its kind in Poland and one of the first in Europe. With the deployment of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, buses can function as mobile energy storage units while also enabling testing through battery discharge. The innovative technology promises to revolutionize the charging and operational capabilities of electric buses for years to come.

Chip in a few dollars a month to help support independent cleantech coverage that helps to accelerate the cleantech revolution!

Now, Solaris Is Taking The Next Step With A New Electric Bus

With all of that accomplishment behind them, it would be pretty easy to coast along and ride on past successes and innovations, but that’s not in Solaris’ DNA. The company seems to always be trying new things with electric buses, and a recent announcement proves as much.

Amid the 14th edition of the Elekbu trade fair, Solaris is set to unveil its latest addition to its extensive fleet of vehicles. The Urbino 18 electric bus, featuring two electric drive axles and an articulated structure, will be on display at the Solaris stand (number 53). The showcase of new electric bus technology highlights Solaris’s commitment to developing innovative and sustainable solutions in the transportation industry.

For the past 14 years, Germany’s largest conference and exhibition of e-buses has served as a significant event for the public transportation sector, particularly in terms of e-mobility. This year, the conference will delve into pertinent topics to the industry and its contributions to achieving climate protection goals. The conference will particularly focus on innovative solutions that can support this objective while seeking to transform transport to become more sustainable. Delegates will explore novel approaches and advancements in the field, emphasizing the critical role of public transportation in fostering eco-friendly transportation methods.

At its stand, Solaris will highlight its innovative Urbino 18 electric bus, featuring two drive axles and Solaris High Energy batteries with a capacity exceeding 550 kWh. The introduction of this new model reinforces Solaris’s commitment to developing electric buses with greater power capacity and performance, particularly on strenuous and uphill routes.

The batteries of the Urbino 18 electric bus are rechargeable using either plug-in or pantograph methods, transferring energy to its four 125 kW motors, which are mounted in both drive axles. On the other hand, the articulated Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses can accommodate up to 40 normal seats and two folding seats, with 16 seats accessible from a low floor. The Urbino 18 sets itself apart from this model, offering greater functionality in challenging driving conditions.

If you’re curious about details for the bus, you can find full specs and a photo gallery here.

Why This Matters

When I first came across this, I was thinking, “Oh, another electric bus. Big whoop.” But, this matters a lot because adding more options in terms of both sizes and configurations helps serve more cities that otherwise might not have a great electric bus option.

Solaris offers its Urbino range of buses in various sizes to cater to the diverse requirements of its customers. Different sizes are crucial in providing flexibility in public transportation systems, considering the capacity requirements, road conditions, urban density, and regulatory constraints that can vary widely among regions and cities.

For example, smaller Urbino buses with a length of 8.9 meters and 10.8 meters are suitable for use on narrower roads with limited maneuvering space. Meanwhile, 12-meter and 15-meter Urbino models with articulated structures offer higher passenger capacity and greater maneuverability on larger roads.

Other factors that influence the selection of bus size include the overall effectiveness and operational costs of the transit network. By offering electric buses of varying sizes, Solaris can conform to the specific needs of their customers, offering an efficient and cost-effective transportation solution.

By covering all of these different needs, Solaris can help expand electrification in more places than ever before.