Solaris to premier lightweight hybrid bus in Poland

Busmaker Solaris of Poland is planning to launch a whole new hybrid bus at the TRANSEXPO in Kielce this October. The Solaris Urbino 12 LE lite hybrid is said to consume less than 30 litres of fuel per 100 km. The bus weighs under nine tons before taking up to 85 passengers.

The main objective of the Solaris engineers who developed the Urbino lite hybrid was to create a a light and fuel efficient bus. Also by opting for a hybrid drive, Solaris opens up new target groups such as transit agencies with little or no experience in electric transport or those with smaller budgets.

The drive system in the new Urbino model is an engine with a volume of 4.5 litres. The unit fulfils the EURO 6 exhaust emission standard and has 154 kW and torque of 832 Nm. The Urbino LE lite hybrid is also equipped with an electrical drive with a power of 11.5 kW. It recuperates energy during braking in order to assist the combustion engine when starting.

The Solaris Urbino 12 LE lite hybrid will be available in version with two doors. The hybrid bus will be able to take up to 85 passengers, 41 of them seated.

Sales will start shortly after the premier at the TRANSEXPO in Polish Kielce this autumn.

The Solaris Urbino 12 electric and the Solaris Urbino 12 hybrid will also be on display. They debut with a new design, which will become the standard for all Urbino and Trollino city vehicles as of January 2019.

In the same year, Solaris will present their first fuel cell electric vehicle. It is based on their Urbino series but with a longer range of up to 350 km on one fill. A prototype with fuel cells serving as range extender is running a trial in Hamburg since 2014. In the new model, a traction battery is to support the hydrogen bus at peak times (we reported).

electrive.com (PI)