Solaris Bus & Coach has signed a contract with GZM Metropolis (an association of municipalities in the Silesia region in Poland) for the delivery of 42 Solaris Urbino electric buses featuring a modular drive.
Under the agreement, the public transport operator in southern Poland, PKM Świerklaniec, will receive 24 Urbino 12 electric and 18 articulated Urbino 18 electric buses. The manufacturer will also supply and commission depot charging infrastructure. Deliveries are scheduled for the second quarter of 2026.
This is Solaris’ second contract with the GZM Metropolis – the previous one, signed in 2022, covered 32 electric buses delivered in 2023 to operators in Katowice, Gliwice, Sosnowiec, and Świerklaniec.
The Urbino 12 electric and Urbino 18 electric models with a modular drive have been designed without an engine tower, which increases the passenger space inside the vehicle. The 12-metre buses will carry up to 70 passengers, while the articulated versions will accommodate as many as 120.
Each bus will be powered by an electric motor supplied with energy from Solaris High Energy batteries with capacities of 600 kWh in the 12-metre models and 800 kWh in the articulated ones. The buses will be charged via a plug-in connector, equipped with a system that shows the charging status.
To ensure the safety of passengers and drivers, the buses will be fitted with a wide range of driver assistance and safety systems, including a speed assistant and an advanced camera monitoring system covering the bus interior as well as the areas in front and alongside the vehicle. Each bus will also feature a passenger counting system and double USB charging ports for passengers. The operator has additionally opted for the eSConnect fleet management system, which enables advanced telematics and predictive diagnostics.
Both models will also feature a preconditioning system that maintains a comfortable temperature in the driver’s cabin and passenger compartment during and after charging. The system can be managed remotely via the eSConnect platform.
Solaris is a European leader in the production and sales of zero-emission buses. More than 3,300 electric Solaris vehicles are currently in operation on the streets of European cities. The new Urbino electric buses with modular drive for GZM Katowice mark another step towards cleaner and quieter public transport in the region.
[source: Solaris]
