Cracow City Transport (MPK Kraków) sets priority on the development of zero-emission public transport. Today, representatives of MPK as well as Solaris Bus & Coach signed a contract for delivery of battery-powered buses. Under the agreement, four completely emission-free and exceptionally quiet Solaris Urbino electric will be handed over by the Polish manufacturer to the capital of Lesser Poland region.
Although several manufacturers competed to win the almost €2 million order, it was Solaris’s offer which turned out to be the best. According to the agreement, the Polish company will deliver four Solaris Urbino 8,9 LE electric to Cracow before the end of July 2016 at the latest.
These exquisitely quiet and clean buses will be fitted with 80 kWh batteries. They can be topped up in two ways: through a traditional 20 kW plug-in connection located at the depot and by an innovative pantograph quick charging system. For this, a special charging station installed at Pawia Street will use energy from a tram traction power supply.
The four electric buses in colors of Cracow City Transport are to start running in regular passenger service in July next year. The line which will be operated by zero-emission vehicles leads to the very city center.
”The decision to purchase battery-powered buses is based on our care about the natural environment and clean air. Furthermore, we very much wish to provide passengers travelling with Cracow City Transport with the highest comfort,” emphasizes Rafał Świerczyński, CEO of MPK Kraków.
”It seems that the process of investments in low-carbon energy fleets by public transportation companies becomes unstoppable in modern metropolises. I believe that Cracow passengers in particular will appreciate the fact that the buses are completely emission-free and very quiet. This kind of vehicles will become increasingly popular within the forthcoming years, especially in the city centres,” said Wiesław Cieśla, Proxy for the CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach, who was present at the signing of the agreement.
Solaris began manufacturing electric buses in 2011. Until now, these environmentally friendly vehicles run in various European countries, including Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Spain and Sweden. Such European cities as Warsaw, Berlin and Dresden already have electric buses in their fleet. Soon the ranks of them will be bolstered by Cracow.
About Solaris Bus & Coach
Solaris Bus & Coach is a major European producer of city, intercity and special-purpose buses as well as low-floor trams. Since the start of production in 1996, over 12 000 vehicles have already left the factory in Bolechowo near Poznań. They are running in 29 countries. Despite its young age, Solaris has become one of the trendsetting companies in its industry. For many years it has been the indisputable leader among the suppliers of city buses in Poland as well as one of the largest suppliers of city buses in Germany.
For media enquiry, please contact:
Mateusz Figaszewski
Deputy Director
mateusz.figaszewski@solarisbus.com
Mobile: +48 601 652 179