Solaris to supply 30 Urbino 12 electric buses to Venice

The Solaris Bus & Coach company has won another zero-emission order for Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses in Italy.

Following the agreement recently signed with ATM Milan, in line with which up to 250 vehicles of this type will be delivered in Milan, the Polish manufacturer has received an order from the transport operator ACTV SPA Venezia for 30 urban electric 12 electric buses and infrastructure for battery charging. The total value of the contract acquired exceeds €20 million ($22.4 million).

The supply of the Solaris company to the customer ACTV SPA Venezia includes the delivery of 30 Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses, which will be used on the Lido and Pellestrina islands and will replace 100% of the diesel vehicles currently operating on two islands. In addition to the vehicles, the Polish manufacturer will deliver nine fast pantograph battery chargers, six fixed plug-in battery chargers and a mobile plug-in charger.

Electric buses for Venice will be driven by a drive axle with integrated electric motors of 2 x 125 kW. The energy needed to drive them will be stored in Solaris High Power batteries with 116 kWh of total capacity. At the request of the customer, the manufacturer will adapt the vehicles for recharging using a plug-in battery charger and for a rapid supply of energy through a pantograph mounted on the roof.

The emission-free Solaris Urbino 12 electric vehicles for the ACTV SPA operator will be equipped with a series of services in order to ensure an increase in the level of comfort and safety of those on board. These include efficient air conditioning, a ramp that allows wheelchair users or those traveling with prams or strollers to enter. There will also be an extensive passenger information and video monitoring system on board, including cockpit cameras, reversing cameras and a pantograph camera.

The manufacturer will also equip its vehicles with a modern touch screen control panel. The passenger seats will be covered with an anti-graffiti coating that will protect them from vandalism. Another element that effectively increases the level of safety is the fire protection system which includes high voltage devices such as a traction box, an air compressor and an electric boiler.

All vehicles as well as the infrastructure will be delivered by the end of 2020 and they will be equipped with remote control systems to analyse and optimise the performance of the entire system. These will not, however, be the first vehicles from Bolechowo in Venice. Solaris has already supplied 18 buses to the capital of Veneto, of which 10 with ecological propulsion with compressed natural gas (CNG).