POLAND
Solaris Bus & Coach has signed a contract to supply three Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses to Włocławek that are due for delivery in October. They will be the city’s first buses with electric drivelines.
Solaris high energy batteries with a capacity of 200kWh will be used in the buses as well as an axle with integrated 125kW electric hub motors.
Apart from the vehicles, the producer is also due to deliver four charging stations for bus depots to enable plug-in recharging to take place.
However, vehicle construction will allow for the assembly of pantographs which may serve as another charging mode in the future.
As well as being fully air-conditioned, the awarding authority has also chosen a hybrid heating system for the vehicles, involving thermal pre-conditioning as it will help reduce energy usage in the challenging autumn-winter season.
It will, in turn, enable the buses to cover a longer distance on a single charge.
Włocławek is the 18th city in Poland to opt for emission-free vehicles from Solaris, where nearly 150 have been ordered and in some cases they account for a significant percentage of the public transport fleet.
In Jaworzno, for example, it’s 40%.
The move towards environmentally friendly transport is a noticeable trend across Europe and the advantages of electric buses, such as low-noise, smooth driving and the lack of pollutant exhaust emissions, constitute a strong incentive for municipal authorities and city transport operators alike.
According to predictions by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), in 2030, buses with electric drivelines will make up nearly 50% of all orders.
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