The Municipal Transport Company in Sosnowiec and the Polish manufacturer Solaris Bus & Coach have signed a contract for the delivery of three battery-powered buses. Furthermore, before the end of June this year, the final batch of new Solaris Urbino 12 buses will arrive in Sosnowiec, which are part of an order for 24 new Solaris Urbino 12 vehicles meeting the strict Euro 6 emission standard. As a result, the number of “dachshunds” in the city will increase to 110 vehicles.
Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses are modern and reliable city buses that operate on the streets of dozens of European cities. Sosnowiec has now joined the group of cities opting for battery-powered vehicles. These vehicles will be fully emission-free, very quiet, and will therefore ensure a high level of travel comfort for both passengers and the driver. The three new Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses will be the first electric buses in Sosnowiec. It is worth adding that these buses will travel the streets of the Zagłębie region branded with the slogan “…clean sky over Zagłębie!”. The electric Solaris buses will thus contribute to reducing air pollution in the metropolitan area.
The battery-powered vehicles for Sosnowiec will be equipped with a central motor and electrical equipment from the Polish manufacturer Medcom, featuring energy recovery during braking. The 200 kWh capacity batteries will be charged via a plug-in connector using dual-range 80 kW and 40 kW chargers. The buses will also be adapted for future installation of pantograph charging, allowing the batteries to be recharged while on route in the city. A pleasant journey in all weather conditions will be ensured in the Solaris buses by efficient, fully automated air conditioning, which adjusts to the needs of passengers based on the temperature measured inside the vehicle. All interior and exterior lighting will be provided using environmentally friendly LED technology. Like previous Solaris buses for Sosnowiec, these will also be equipped with an alcohol interlock, which the driver is required to use before starting the vehicle. This is additional equipment that increases road safety. The electric Solaris buses will be the first in Sosnowiec to feature specially marked spaces for wheelchairs and strollers.
The new Solaris Urbino 12 electric was awarded the “Bus of the Year 2017” title. To date, Solaris Bus & Coach has sold over 1,500 vehicles equipped with electric drive. In addition to Poland, electric-powered Urbino buses are also operating in: Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Spain, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Italy.