Solaris buses under consideration in Greece

Polish bus manufacturer Solaris under consideration for two large electric bus orders from Greece: Athens and Thessaloniki are considering expanding their fleets by a total of 1,300 buses. A decision expected in the next few months.

Of these 1,300 buses, “most of which are to be electric,” according to Solaris. The manufacturer bases their aspiration for the orders by stating that an electric bus from Poland will be tested in Athens in the next two months in regular city traffic by the operator OSY.

The Urbino 12 Electric is to be used on bus line 2 through the city center. According to the manufacturer, the vehicle is equipped with a battery capacity of almost 400 kWh and will be charged exclusively by cable. This model of the Urbino Electric is powered by an electric axle with two integrated engines with a capacity of 125 kW each.

The procurement programmes in Athens and Thessaloniki go back to the Greek government. The government and the responsible Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport have placed the electrification of transport at the center of their transport policy.

However, the tests with the Solaris buses are not exclusive: public transport operator OSY also tested electric buses from Chinese manufacturers Yutong and BYD. These are also said to have been 12-meter solo buses with comparable battery and passenger capacity. Apparently, other buses manufactured in Europe will also be evaluated.

solarisbus.com, german.china.org.cn (in German, BYD and Yutong)