The total of 208 hybrid busses will be ordered from Solaris by the largest public transport company in the francophone part of Belgium, Société Régionale Wallonne du Transport (SRWT). The value of framework agreement totals almost 105 M euro. The contract involves both delivery and maintenance of the vehicles for 8 years, as well as maintenance of energy storage systems for 16 years.
This is the biggest success so far of the Polish manufacturer on the Belgian market. Solaris Urbino 12 Hybrid vehicles purchased by SRWT will be used by two operators: TEC Hainaut and TEC Liege-Verviers. Under the framework agreement for delivery of the total of 208 vehicles, Solaris has received so far confirmation of the order for 97 vehicles. Ten of them will be delivered as early as in September this year. The 111 remaining busses will be purchased in the first quarter of 2018 with delivery dates spread over the period 2018-2019.
Solaris vehicles purchased by SRWT are hybrid busses to be equipped with BAE Systems units. Owing to the application of an energy storage system in the form of supercaps, vehicles with diesel-electric drives will be able to cover parts of their routes in the entirely emission-free mode. The investment in the development of hybrid vehicle fleet forms an element of TEC Group strategy oriented at reducing CO2 emissions in the Walloon Region.
„This is a very important procurement on the hermetic Belgian market, dominated by domestic manufacturers. We can assure TEC passengers that we will deliver vehicles with top quality and safety standards that reduce harmful exhaust emissions. This is confirmed, among others, by the title “Bus of the Year 2017”. Solaris won this most prestigious award in the bus industry exactly in Belgium”, says Zbigniew Palenica, Solaris’ Board Member in charge of Sales and Aftersales.
Solaris is a Europe-wide leader in e-mobility in public transport. It presented the first serially manufactured hybrid bus in Europe in 2006. Since 2011, Solaris has also offered battery busses. Until present, Solaris has supplied over 1500 electric drive vehicles which have been driving, among others, in Germany, Switzerland and Poland.
Information Solaris
Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o. is a leading producer of city and intercity buses in Europe. It focuses on the development of low-emission and zero-emission vehicles, i. e. electric and hydrogen buses as well as trolleybuses. Over 25,000 Solaris vehicles have been delivered so far and they ply the streets in 850 towns and cities across 33 countries located throughout Europe as well as beyond it. Solaris is part of the Spanish CAF Group (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) S.A. From conception, to the design and manufacturing phases, all Solaris buses are produced in Poland. All activities undertaken by the company are in line with its mission, which is reflected in the brand’s promise: to change the image of public transport. Solaris also actively partners with public transport operators and provides them with comprehensive support in their transition to zero-emission mobility. Solaris products have been repeatedly awarded for quality and innovation. The Urbino 18 hydrogen bus has won the prestigious 'Bus of the Year 2025' title.
Additional information
Mateusz Figaszewski
Institutional Partnerships and External Relations Director
mateusz.figaszewski@solarisbus.com
