Solaris is awarded the largest contract in Europe for the supply of 130 articulated electric buses to Warsaw
The urban transport concessionaire Miejskie Zakłady Autobusowe w Warszawie (MZA) acquired 130 articulated electric buses for almost 93.3 million euros. The largest contract to date for the purchase of zero emission buses in Europe was won by Solaris. The articulated electric Urbino 18 will be delivered to the Polish capital in 2020.
The gigantic order of 130 articulated electric buses is the largest tender of this type in Europe. Solaris electric buses have so far been bought by 60 cities in 17 countries, and have already traveled more than 14 million kilometers since 2011.
The batteries will be recharged through plug-in charging stations and through pantographs. The bus will have two charging sockets: one above the right wheel arch and the other behind the last door, while the pantograph will be mounted on the roof. With more than 400 kW of power, fast charging stations will be deployed in various parts of the city. The development of cargo infrastructure is subject to a separate tender.
The drive unit of articulated electric buses for Warsaw will consist of an axle with two electric motors of 110 kW each. Although electric buses are already much cheaper, operationally speaking, than diesel buses, buses for MZA are also incorporating a voltage converter for the traction motor, produced with SiC technology, which will help to further reduce energy consumption.