Solaris, an electric bus company we cover often here (more on that toward the end of the article), recently had two announcements that show the company continuing its fight for mass transit electrification in Europe.
In Austria, the company recently struck a deal that will greatly help the city of Lustenau meet its goals. Rheintal Busverkehr GmbH, the local transit operator, has procured 16 Solaris Urbino 9 LE electric vehicles. These low-volume models are suitable for approval in both Class I and Class II. The order will be fulfilled in two phases, with delivery of 11 buses scheduled for 2024 and the rest in 2025. Rheintal Busverkehr GmbH is already familiar with a similar-length, conventionally powered model, as it has 20 Urbino 8.9 LE buses in its fleet.
The Solaris Urbino 9 LE electric bus boasts emission-free operation, quiet performance, and high maneuverability. Its compact size makes it ideal for navigating crowded urban spaces. Meanwhile, the ability to approve the bus in both Class I and Class II and the majority of the seats facing the direction of travel ensure comfortable rides not only on typical urban routes but also on suburban roads.
The ordered e-buses will feature state-of-the-art High Energy batteries with a total capacity of over 300 kWh, charged via plug-in connectors. Each bus will be equipped with two plug-in connectors, one located on the first right-wheel arch and the other on the last side panel on the right-hand side.
Inside, the modern interior of the Urbino 9 LE electric provides seating for 27 passengers, complete with modern features such as an automatic passenger counting system and advanced monitoring systems. Moreover, each of the 16 buses for Lustenau will be fitted with a CO2 heat pump.
As the shortest model in the zero-emission Urbino 9 LE electric portfolio, this vehicle has proven highly adaptable to the requirements of different transport operators, driving its increasing popularity. Solaris has already signed contracts for nearly 70 units of the 9-metre electrobus, with operators across Austria, Poland, Spain, Italy, Romania, and Germany, thereby supporting the green transformation of public transport in several cities.
The company also recently announced that it’s going to be at the UITP Global Public Transport Summit 2023 in Barcelona. The event, scheduled for June 5–7, is going to feature the company’s Urbino 12 Electric, and representatives will be on hand for questions and to start the ordering process as needed.
On the 6th at 11:00 AM, they’re also going to have a presentation by the company’s CEO, Javier Iriarte, where recent projects will be discussed and the press will have an opportunity to ask questions about the company’s products and mission.
