Zero-emission vehicle retrofit – Solaris expands service offering

Electric buses are becoming the dominant segment in urban fleets and the pace of technological evolution is unprecedented. As an example, batteries installed in vehicles produced a decade ago differ significantly in capacity and performance from those designed today. Solaris is now introducing a new service offering called “zero-emission vehicle retrofit” to provide an effective solution to those customers willing to extend fleet exploitation of previous generation electric buses with all benefits of current EV technology.

In recent years, we have witnessed a dynamic shift in urban transport fleets. Diesel-powered buses are more and more replaced by electric vehicles, jointly with new charging infrastructure and fleet management solutions. This transition is taking place in a relative short time with an unprecedent evolution of the solution defined, leading to technological obsolescence during the normal vehicle exploitation period. Solaris, as the European leader in e-mobility, is introducing a new service to its portfolio – zero-emission vehicle retrofit – which, through the replacement of specific electric vehicle components – particularly batteries, but also other elements of the drivetrain – extends the lifespan of electric buses.

Solaris has been producing electric buses since 2011. Today, several thousand of the brand’s electric vehicles are operating across European roads, with some successfully serving passengers for over a decade and covering nearly a million kilometres. The retrofit, that is the post-warranty replacement of EV components with new ones, supports operators in maximising the return on their e-mobility investments.

Zero-emission vehicle retrofit offering is starting with batteries and it involves the modernisation of energy storage systems, thereby improving their efficiency. In this way it is possible to offer the most modern energy storage units improving performance and durability.

“Zero-emission vehicle retrofit is a service built around customer needs, enabling operators with Solaris buses to ensure vehicle maximum benefits at every stage of its life cycle. Our After Sales department, together with the Battery Hub, responds to the growing expectations of the market, offering a ready-to-use solution for battery bus users taking care of all steps of process up to the old battery disposal. We are proud to announce the first units retrofitted in MPK Kraków and ready to scale-up this offering in all Solaris certified service points in Europe,” says Marco Franza, Chief Services Officer at Solaris Bus & Coach.

A retrofit carried out by Solaris is a fully comprehensive service. The manufacturer provides full customer support – from a thorough case analysis, calculation, and complete documentation, through the collection of previously used batteries, to the installation of new ones. The service applies not only to battery buses but also to trolleybuses equipped with batteries and IMC systems, and in the future, to hydrogen buses as well.

The retrofit service at Solaris is also supported by a range of additional processes. These include the replacement of necessary electrical components, the upgrade or installation of a BTMS (Battery Thermal Management System, responsible for battery cooling and heating), updates to the BMS (Battery Management System), and ensuring compatibility of the modified batteries with existing charging infrastructure. This attractive offer allows operators to fully leverage the advantages of modern battery vehicles and significantly extend their operational lifespan.

Solaris experts will offer the optimal battery solutions, based on LFP, NMC, or LTO technologies – all tailored to the customer’s expectations. When preparing an offer, dozens of factors are taken into account, such as the expected battery lifespan, charging and usage methods, the amount of energy required daily for transport operations, and of course, cost.

The retrofit service is already attracting significant interest. Currently, Solaris is finalising the retrofit process for MPK Kraków. As part of the tender-based contract, Solaris is responsible for post-warranty battery replacement in 20 buses: seventeen Urbino 12 electric and three articulated Urbino 18 electric models. Additional retrofit orders from customers in Berlin, Hamburg, Paris, and Warsaw are currently underway.

With an impressive total of 6,300 electric and hydrogen buses and trolleybuses sold across Europe, Solaris possesses the best expertise to carry out this important process comprehensively. The manufacturer relies on its extensive experience gained not only from sales but also from the servicing of its contracts.

For detailed information about the offer, please contact the Solaris Service Representative responsible for your region.