Paris: RATP testing Solaris electric bus
The Paris public transport operator RATP has ordered a fully electric Urbino 8.9 LE electric from Solaris for testing. The contract includes the option to increase the order up to 10 million Euros for further Solaris electric buses.
The type designation of the bus indicates that it is an 8.9 m long electric bus with a low entry height (LE). According to the Polish manufacturer, it is powered by a central motor with an output of 160 kW. Also on board are batteries with a total capacity of 160 kWh. In addition, the model can carry over 50 passengers and has a door arrangement according to scheme 1-2.
The signed order is not the first between RATP and Solaris. At the end of last year, the Paris Transport Authority ordered 18 gas-powered units of the Urbino 18 CNG, which are due to start deliveries soon. However, the order appears small compared to RATP’s ambitious plan to procure up to 800 electric buses by 2024. The budget of 400 million euros earmarked for this purpose will go in equal parts of 133 million euros each to the manufacturers Heuliez Bus, Bolloré and Alstom. The mega-project will be financed by Île-de-France Mobilités, the organisation responsible for organising public transport in the greater Paris area.
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