POLAND MPK Kraków is to take delivery of four Solaris Urbino 8.9 LE electrics by the end of July 2016. The buses will have 80kWh batteries that can be topped up either using a traditional 20kW plug-in connection located at the depot or by using an overhead pantograph. For the latter a special charging station installed at Pawia Street will use energy from a tram traction power supply.
”The decision to purchase battery-powered buses is based on our care about the natural environment and clean air,” said Rafa? ?wierczy?ski, CEO of MPK Kraków. “Furthermore, we very much wish to provide passengers travelling with Kraków City Transport with the highest comfort.”
”It seems that the process of investments in low-carbon energy fleets by public transportation companies becomes unstoppable in modern metropolises,” added Wies?aw Cie?la, Proxy for the CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach, who was present at the signing of the agreement. “I believe that Kraków passengers in particular will appreciate the fact that the buses are completely emission-free and very quiet. This kind of vehicles will become increasingly popular within the forthcoming years, especially in the city centres.”
Solaris began manufacturing electric buses in 2011. Until now, these environmentally friendly vehicles run in various European countries, including Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Spain and Sweden. Such European cities as Warsaw, Berlin and Dresden already have electric buses in their fleets. Soon their ranks will be bolstered by Kraków.
