Solaris has delivered three 'Urbino 18' electric buses to Stadtwerke Bonn Bus und Bahn (SWB). The deployment of new electric buses will allow the city to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 200 tonnes, and NOx emissions - by 430 kilograms every year.
Anja Wenmakers, the Managing Director of SWB Bus und Bahn, commented
“The future is electric. We stick to our step-by-step plan of transitioning the fleet towards zero-emission transport and we keep investing in comfortable and quiet electric buses which, thanks to low CO2 emission levels, are locally neutral for the environment,”
The new buses come with the guarantee of achieving a driving range of 200 km on a single charge. Meeting these requirements over a usage period of 12 years will be achieved thanks to the application of the new generation of Solaris’ High Energy batteries.
The total battery capacity of the batteries installed in the buses for Bonn comes to over 550 kWh meaning that the vehicles will be able to effortlessly cover the range stipulated, irrespective of weather or road conditions, with the heating or the air-conditioning switched on and with a full set of passengers on board.
“Contrary to other transport companies, we rely exclusively on long-range electric buses. That is why Bonn does not have to invest in charging outlets spread across the city,” adds Anja Wenmakers.
“Contrary to other transport companies, we rely exclusively on long-range electric buses. That is why Bonn does not have to invest in charging outlets spread across the city,” adds Anja Wenmakers.
The drive unit in the Urbino 18 electric bus consists of an electric axle with two integrated motors boasting a power of 125 kW each. The vehicles have a purely electrical heating system, whereas the temperature comfort in the buses is ensured by efficient and environmentally friendly air conditioning featuring a heat pump. The device uses heat drawn in from the outside to reach the right vehicle temperature.
Over the past months, the bus depot in Friesdorf witnessed the setup of a new charging infrastructure. The batteries of the articulated electric buses are charged there overnight, using plug-in connectors.
The charging outlets were created based on binding standards and are compatible with every vehicle type recharged with direct current. The overnight charging mode allows for the deployment, by SWB, of electric buses to nearly all bus routes.
The articulated electric buses can hold up to 100 passengers. Catering to the client’s wishes, Solaris has designed a completely new seat layout, adding an additional bench for three passengers in the rear of the vehicle.
The articulated electric buses can hold up to 100 passengers. Catering to the client’s wishes, Solaris has designed a completely new seat layout, adding an additional bench for three passengers in the rear of the vehicle.
This solution allowed to raise the number of seats on board of the buses to 44, many of which will be accessible from the low floor, which makes it easier to travel for persons with reduced mobility. Also, the new buses will offer a total of 21 double USB ports for passengers to recharge their mobile devices.
While ordering the buses, the public transport operator also considered the safety and work comfort of drivers. The buses supplied by Solaris feature state-of-the-art assistance systems, such as MobilEye Shield+. This device allows the driver to see more thanks to cameras placed outside of the vehicle; these cameras detect pedestrians and cyclists situated in the blind spot of the vehicle. This is particularly important during turns, when visibility is impaired. What is more, one of the buses has cameras in lieu of conventional side mirrors.
SWB Bus und Bahn plans to convert its fleet to one using solely alternative drive technologies, so as to make all regular transport services environmentally neutral.
“The articulated electric buses of Solaris are emission-free, silent vehicles. SWB Bus und Bahn invests in innovative mobility solutions. We are proud that, thanks to the trust placed in us by our client, we can be part of the transformation of municipal transport in Bonn,” explains Christian Goll, managing director of Solaris Deutschland GmbH.
"Since 2013 Solaris has so far delivered 200 electric buses to its German clients. Solaris is Europe’s leading e-mobility provider when it comes to public transport"
While ordering the buses, the public transport operator also considered the safety and work comfort of drivers. The buses supplied by Solaris feature state-of-the-art assistance systems, such as MobilEye Shield+. This device allows the driver to see more thanks to cameras placed outside of the vehicle; these cameras detect pedestrians and cyclists situated in the blind spot of the vehicle. This is particularly important during turns, when visibility is impaired. What is more, one of the buses has cameras in lieu of conventional side mirrors.
SWB Bus und Bahn plans to convert its fleet to one using solely alternative drive technologies, so as to make all regular transport services environmentally neutral.
“The articulated electric buses of Solaris are emission-free, silent vehicles. SWB Bus und Bahn invests in innovative mobility solutions. We are proud that, thanks to the trust placed in us by our client, we can be part of the transformation of municipal transport in Bonn,” explains Christian Goll, managing director of Solaris Deutschland GmbH.
"Since 2013 Solaris has so far delivered 200 electric buses to its German clients. Solaris is Europe’s leading e-mobility provider when it comes to public transport"
