Solaris, Europe’s leading manufacturer of hydrogen buses, has signed a contract with transport operator Ruhrbahn GmbH to supply 19 innovative hydrogen buses to Essen, Germany. The order includes the delivery of nine Urbino 12 hydrogen models and ten Urbino 18 hydrogen models.

700 fuel cell buses in Solaris’ order book

Solaris is today the largest manufacturer of hydrogen buses and boasts an order book of more than 700 vehicles, 180 of which are already serving European cities and 530 are scheduled for delivery in the coming months. The German market is particularly active, investing in hydrogen-powered buses.

Urbino hydrogen buses are already operating in cities such as Cologne, Wuppertal, Hofolding, Weimar, Frankfurt, Gross-Zimmern, and in the Munich metropolitan area. Moreover, further contracts are in the pipeline, including Aschaffenburg, Krefeld, Güstrow, Gross-Gerau, Hamburg and Duisburg.

The ordered buses will be equipped with hydrogen fuel cells that generate electrical energy onboard. The 12-meter models will use a 70 kW fuel cell, while the articulated buses will have a 100 kW fuel cell. All models will be powered by central electric motors. Urbino hydrogen buses will also feature Solaris High Power batteries designed to support the fuel cell during increased activity.

The vehicles will be air-conditioned using CO2 device with heat pump heating function. In addition, each Urbino hydrogen will offer passengers practical USB chargers and an extensive passenger information system. The increase in passenger and driver safety will be ensured by GSR2 Systems, which include among others turn-assistant and brake-assistant. The operator has also opted for eSConnect, Solaris’ proprietary tool that allows full access to the data necessary to assess the bus’s performance and plan its further operation.

“We are extremely proud to have the opportunity to supply Essen with the latest hydrogen vehicles, which will not only enhance passenger comfort but also represent a new stage in the transformation of the transportation industry. I am delighted that Ruhrbahn has decided to take this strategic step for the transformation of the transport industry and that together we can shape a more sustainable future with an emphasis on innovation and ecology,” said Olivier Michard, Member of the Board responsible for Sales and Marketing at Solaris Bus & Coach Sp. z o.o.

The post Solaris secures a fuel cell order in Essen (Germany) for 19 vehicles appeared first on Sustainable Bus.

The Solaris brand continues to solidify its position in the Italian market, particularly in the segment of battery-powered electric and hydrogen buses. This year alone, the bus maker has signed contracts for the supply of 98 Urbino e-buses to Cagliari and 90 hydrogen buses to Venice. Additionally, Solaris will carry out the largest-ever order for hydrogen buses in Europe, producing 130 hydrogen-powered buses for Bologna.

500 Solaris buses already in Milan

The partnership between Solaris and ATM in Milan began in 2014. Since then, the carrier has ordered nearly 500 vehicles from the manufacturer. Since 2018, Solaris has been supplying Milan solely with zero-emission vehicles (trolleybuses included). 

The order placed by ATM Milano involves the Urbino 18 electric model. This articulated Solaris e-bus will be equipped with Solaris High Energy batteries with a total capacity of 700 kWh. Similar to previous e-buses delivered to Milan, the newly commissioned units will be charged through both a pantograph and plug-in technology. The urban infrastructure has been optimized to allow regular recharging using chargers placed along the route, ensuring a practically unlimited all-day driving range.

“Solaris e-buses have become a permanent fixture in the landscape of European towns and cities, pursuing their mission to boost zero-emission mobility. Milan sets an impressive example by heavily investing in sustainable transport. We are very pleased to be a partner in this transition,” said Javier Iriarte, CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o. 

The post 105 Solaris articulated e-buses headed to Milan with delivery starting in early 2025 appeared first on Sustainable Bus.

This is yet another order from the carrier for electric buses manufactured by Solaris placed through the Italian central purchasing body Consip. So far, 7 Urbino 12 electric buses have been transporting passengers around the city. They were put into operation at the beginning of this year, whereas another 11 units will be delivered by the end of this year. The new delivery will take place in 2024-2025.

AMTS Catania to deploy Solaris e-buses

The electric buses due to roll out onto the Sicilian streets will be equipped with an electric central traction motor powered by Solaris High Energy batteries. The Urbino 12 buses will feature batteries with a total capacity of 350 kWh, while the Urbino 18 units will be fitted with 400 kWh batteries. The vehicles will be charged both by means of pantograph chargers as well as in the bus depot using a standard plug-in connector.

“We are extremely proud of the trust placed in our company by the carrier AMTS Catania, which has ordered another batch of zero-emission buses from our company. We are happy to be able to support the green transition of transport in Catania and to deliver more innovative solutions for the inhabitants of this lovely Sicilian port“, said Olivier Michard, Member of the Management Board for Sales and Marketing.

The post 42 Solaris e-buses headed to Catania, Italy appeared first on Sustainable Bus.

55 15-meter e-buses for Stockholm

The specific buses in question are the Solaris Urbino Electric 15 LE, launched in late 2020 and tailored to meet the requirements of both SL and Nobina. The bus was developed with a specific focus on the Scandinavian market. These vehicles are equipped with a 560 kWh battery pack, feature depot charging capabilities, and are powered by an electric TSA central motor. A wheelchair ramp is included at the middle door for enhanced accessibility.

According to the information released when the model was launched, the Solaris Urbino Electric 15 LE is the first in Solaris’ history realized having in mind only the battery-electric drive. It can fit up to 65 seats with amenities such as USB chargers, reading lamps or armrests. A max of 105 passengers can be hosted on board.

David Tyrenius, CEO of Solaris Sweden, is reported on Bussmagasinet as saying: “We consider it a mark of quality to gain Nobina’s trust to supply 55 electric regional buses to Stockholm. Solaris has worked closely with Nobina to develop customized vehicles for this project.”

The post Nobina orders 55 15-meter electric buses from Solaris for Stockholm public transport appeared first on Sustainable Bus.

Solaris electric buses in Kristianstad

Solaris Bus & Coach has just signed another contract for the supply of electric buses. The Swedish town of Kristianstad has joined the long list of towns and cities investing in zero-emission transport. As part of the contract, the carrier VR has ordered a total of 23 e-buses from the Solaris Urbino family, including 20 Urbino 15 LE electric and 3 Urbino 12 electric units.

Solaris will deliver the ordered vehicles as early as in July next year.

Solaris electric buses in Kristianstad

The Urbino 15 LE electric is an electric bus designed to run on both city and intercity routes. The vehicle will feature batteries with a capacity of over 550 kWh providing for maximum autonomy and efficiency.

The Urbino 12 electric bus is, in turn, the most popular low-floor city electric model in the zero-emission range of Solaris. The 12-metre bus will be fitted with batteries with a capacity of over 400 kWh. The energy storage units of both models will be charged with a power output of 130 kW via a plug-in connector.

Vehicles for Kristianstad will be accessible for passengers with limited mobility. Onboard both the Urbino 15 LE electric and the Urbino 12 electric, the carrier has provided two ramps for passengers with disabilities, as well as seats that are accessible directly from the low floor. An additional feature of the vehicles will be LED RGB lighting, which will allow the color to change to green, giving the interior a modern look. Passengers and driver safety will be ensured by a monitoring system and the eMirror solution, which involves cameras mounted in place of traditional mirrors, significantly improving visibility while operating the vehicle.

“Every new city that decides to invest in zero-emission Solaris vehicles is another token of trust and the best proof of the high quality of our products. We are very pleased to be a partner in transforming local public transport to become more sustainable” said Olivier Michard, Member of the Management Board for Sales, Marketing and After Sales at Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o.

The post Solaris sells 23 e-buses in Kristianstad, Sweden (including 15-meter LE vehicles) appeared first on Sustainable Bus.

Luca Cordiviola joins Solaris as Interurban Platform Director

Before joining Solaris, Cordiviola has held the position of R&D and Quality Director at Industria Italiana Autobus S.p.A., from April 2022 until August 2023. Prior to IIA, he had been working at Iveco, where his last role was Product Director Commercial Vehicles – Extra European Markets from 2019 to December 2021.

His experience extends to China, where he served as Deputy CEO and Director of Engineering, Project Platform, Product Management, Quality at NAVECO SAIC-Iveco JV Company for a period of five years from 2014 to 2019.

“We are delighted to welcome Luca to the team. His knowledge and experience will provide a solid foundation for the Interurban sector within our company. I am convinced that the strength of Luca’s experience and that of our teams, as well as Solaris’ innovation potential, will enable us to establish a strong market position in the field of zero-emission intercity vehicles. I wish him every success and good luck in his everyday actions,” said Javier Iriarte, CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach.

The post Solaris appoints Luca Cordiviola as Interurban Platform Director, with the goal of expanding the zero emission bus offer appeared first on Sustainable Bus.

Solaris Trollino in Canada

The OEM adds that “In Vancouver, Canada, the Solaris Trollino 12 trolleybus has been tested in regular city traffic for the last few weeks. The vehicle is equipped with batteries, allowing it to drive both from the overhead wires and in areas with no catenary”.

The intention of the company to enter North American market has been highlighted several times by Solaris delegates in the last couple of years. Solaris would rely on its owner CAF’s network in the region.

Solaris continues: “The current trolleybus fleet in Vancouver consists of 262 vehicles that were delivered to the metropolis between 2006 and 2009. The carrier intends to renew its fleets by the end of this decade. Trollino’s presentation in Vancouver is another step in the implementation of Solaris’ strategy of entering the USA and Canada with its offer. In the coming years, the manufacturer is considering offering exclusively zero-emission vehicles on those markets, i.e. battery, hydrogen, and trolleybuses”.

“The tests were an opportunity for North American authorities to get acquainted with the Solaris product – Solaris continues -. This initiative also gave us the opportunity to collect valuable feedback while road testing the vehicle in several service scenarios”

The post A trolleybus by Solaris has been tested for the first time in North America appeared first on Sustainable Bus.

The awards have not yet been announced, but the data were announced by the commissions at the tender session.

Solaris wins over 400 buses in Rome

It was a very heartfelt competition, especially for the insiders who were able to witness the challenge between three giants: Iveco Bus, Mercedes and Solaris. Solaris won the whole pot, betting on a competitive price of full service, thus winning a tender it had been waiting for for a long time. Specifically, the Polish manufacturer got the better of the CNG vehicle lot by challenging Iveco Bus. Notable absentee, on this specific lot, was Industria Italiana Autobus, which, thanks to Consip, had carpeted the eternal city in recent years with its 12-metre gas-powered vehicles. In fact, even Solaris’ bid sounds like an almost surprise; the Polish manufacturer had in the past year kept well away from tenders for gas-powered buses. The reason? To leave room for the production of electric buses: in the first half of 2023, in fact, Solaris is (again) the market leader for e-buses in Europe.

Mild hybrid buses: Solaris vs Iveco Bus vs Daimler Buses

But let us come to the second lot, focused on mild hybrid technology. Here, as already mentioned, the competition was between Iveco Bus, Mercedes and Solaris. With Mercedes having an important supply of Citaro hybrid in Rome, Iveco Bus with a historic relationship and Solaris which, specifically, had not yet submitted an offer on an Italian tender on this technology. As they say in these cases: good the first!

The post Solaris wins 322 CNG buses and 110 mild hybrid in Rome appeared first on Sustainable Bus.

The Duisburger Verkehrsgesellschaft AG (DVG) has already put into operation seven Mercedes eCitaro G electric buses in early 2022.

The company has so far delivered more than 3,000 buses with electric and hydrogen propulsion systems. Urbino hydrogen buses have been contracted by customers from Austria, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden and Italy.

25 fuel cell buses for Duisburg

Carrier Duisburger Verkehrsgesellschaft AG (DVG) has placed an order for 25 Solaris hydrogen buses. This marks the first step for the operator in its journey to transform its fleet to completely emission-free by 2030. They will be the first hydrogen vehicles in the city, with delivery scheduled for 2024 for the Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen and mid-2025 for the Solaris Urbino 18 hydrogen.

The Urbino 12 will use 70 kW fuel cells, while the Urbino 18 will use 100 kW. The hydrogen Solaris buses features an electric traction motor with 160 kW in the 12-meter model and 240 kW in the articulated version. Moreover, the ordered vehicles will be equipped with Solaris High Power batteries, providing additional electric energy storage.

Passenger comfort and safety are ensured through efficient CO2 heat pump, monitoring, and a modern passenger information system. The driver’s work will be supported by extensive assistance systems (ADAS), including the detection of pedestrians and cyclists in the so-called blind spot, alerting the bus driver with audible and visual signals. Furthermore, ongoing operations are assisted by eSConnect, Solaris’ bus fleet monitoring, and management system.

Duisburg buys hydrogen buses from Solaris

“With the order of the first 25 hydrogen buses we are taking another important step towards making public transport in Duisburg completely emission-free and sustainable. With this transformation, we will make a decisive contribution to climate protection and to increasing the quality of life in Duisburg”, explains DVG CEO Marcus Wittig.

“I am proud that we can be part of this significant change taking place in urban transport in Duisburg. The implementation of safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly hydrogen technology will further reduce emissions in the city. The only by-product of operating the Urbino hydrogen buses is water vapor. We thank you for your trust and are looking forward to working with DVG”, said Olivier Michard, Solaris Board Member responsible for Sales, Marketing, and After Sales.

The post German city of Duisburg has procured 25 Solaris fuel cell buses appeared first on Sustainable Bus.

The low-entry 9-metre vehicles will serve passenger traffic in the Lustenau area, which is located in the Rhine valley. The purchase will be carried out in two rounds, with 11 buses to be delivered in 2024 and the remaining five in 2025. The operator already has 20 conventionally powered Urbino 8.9 LE buses in its fleet.

The Urbino 9 LE electric is the shortest in the zero-emission Urbino 9 LE electric portfolio and was launched in Autumn 2021. Solaris has already signed contracts for nearly 70 units of 9-metre electrobus with operators from Austria, Poland, Spain, Italy, Romania, and Germany, thereby supporting the green transformation of public transport in more cities.

Solaris Urbino 9 LE electric for Austria

The ordered e-buses will be powered by High Energy batteries with a total capacity of over 300 kWh. The battery will be charged via a plug-in connector. Each of the e-buses will be equipped with two plug-in connectors, located on the first right wheel arch and in the last side panel on the right-hand side.

The modern interior of the Urbino 9 LE electric provides seating for 27 passengers. The midibus is equipped with modern features such as an automatic passenger counting system and advanced monitoring systems. Each of the 16 buses for Lustenau will be fitted with a CO2 heat pump.

The post 16 Solaris Urbino 9 LE electric buses headed to Lustenau, Western Austria appeared first on Sustainable Bus.