Port of Bar, the main seaport in Montenegro, has selected Solaris as the supplier of one Urbino 12 mild hybrid vehicle following a tender procedure. Thus, Solaris has entered a new market, the 33rd on the list of countries where vehicles of this brand are present. The delivery of this low-emission bus is scheduled for December 2022.
At the beginning of May, an agreement was signed with a new client in the Solaris portfolio – Port of Bar, an institution that operates the main seaport in Montenegro. The subject of the contract is the delivery of a low-emission Urbino 12 mild hybrid bus, which will be used primarily for transporting port employees and guests. This cooperation has opened up another market for the manufacturer, the 33rd one where Solaris buses serve public transport. The purchase is co-financed by the European Union under the SuMo project (Sustainable Mobility in the Port Cities of the Southern Adriatic Area) – the Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro program.
Mild hybrid vehicles operate similarly to hybrid buses, thus offering a number of environmental and economic benefits while ensuring significant flexibility. The system used in the Urbino mild hybrid is based on an internal combustion engine supported by a so-called electric machine that acts as a power generator. The electric machine allows for relieving the internal combustion engine, which translates into fuel savings and a reduction in exhaust emissions. The mild hybrid solution is based on recuperation technology: the system recovers and stores energy during braking. The recovered energy is stored in an energy storage unit and then used when the engine is under higher load – e.g., during acceleration. The machine then works as an electric motor. As a result, mild hybrid vehicles emit fewer pollutants and are more environmentally friendly.
The bus intended for port traffic in the town of Bar, located in southern Montenegro, will have 29 seats. The vehicle with a 2-2-2 door layout will be equipped with modern air conditioning, which is important in the hot Mediterranean climate. The device will provide high cooling and heating power, which will translate into comfort for passengers at any time of the year. The driver’s cabin will be designed as a closed type, with high glass panels, guaranteeing the driver isolation and comfortable working conditions, as well as safety.
The Urbino 12 mild hybrid has been offered since 2020 and is popular among customers. Solaris has so far secured an order portfolio for nearly 70 vehicles. Among the contracts, it is worth mentioning 16 Urbino mild hybrids for Hanau (Germany), 29 buses of this type for Łódź (Poland), and 4 for Vienna (Austria).