The agreement was signed by Bolesławiec Mayor Piotr Roman and, on behalf of the contractor Solaris Bus & Coach S.A., by Waldemar Wlazło, Director of Sales for the South-Western Region.
Municipal officials:
The agreement covers the delivery of two brand-new, low-floor, electric SOLARIS buses, Urbino 8X, Urbino 8.9 LE electric models, together with chargers and the necessary equipment, including a set of tools and specialist devices. The price for one bus is PLN 2,396,040 gross, while the total bid price is PLN 4,792,080 gross.
The drive system of the eco-friendly electric buses will consist of a central 160 kW traction motor. The energy required to power it will be stored in Solaris High Energy batteries with a total capacity of 160 kWh. They will be recharged via a plug-in connector.
Solaris will also supply equipment for recharging the buses. One of the two external chargers ordered is a dual-range charger which, depending on the operator’s needs, can simultaneously charge two buses at 40 kW per bus or one bus at 80 kW.
According to the submitted offer, Solaris Urbino 8.9 LE electric vehicles will carry more than 58 people on board at a time, including 20 seated passengers. The buses will be equipped, among other things, with destination displays adapted to the needs of people with visual impairments and ramps for people with reduced mobility. The passenger area will also feature USB sockets, allowing passengers to charge their mobile devices. At the purchaser’s request, the Polish manufacturer will also install a passenger information system, including a video surveillance system and a fire detection and extinguishing system.
Bolesławiec at the forefront
Bolesławiec will join the 28 Polish cities where Solaris electric buses are in service. The electric buses are scheduled for delivery in mid-February 2021.
It is worth recalling that the project “Purchase of bus fleet (2 zero-emission buses with alternative electric drive systems) together with accompanying infrastructure” received funding under the ROP WD 2014–2020. Co-financing from European Union funds amounts to 85 percent.
About the MZK fleet
Recently, Miejski Zakład Komunikacji w Bolesławcu acquired 13 modern Solaris Urbino 10 buses. The buses are equipped with Euro 6 engines that meet the highest exhaust-emission standards. This Bolesławiec project, “Purchase of low-emission bus fleet for the needs of public transport in Bolesławiec,” also received funding from the Regional Operational Programme of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship for 2014–2020.
Under the agreement with the Regional Operational Programme of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship 2014–2020, Bolesławiec received more than PLN 8 million. In 2018, the new buses were purchased with free public transport already in mind.
Free public transport in Bolesławiec for residents and tourists has been in effect since 23 June 2018. Introducing free public transport in the city is part of efforts to improve air quality in Bolesławiec by reducing low emissions, including limiting individual car traffic and encouraging residents to use public transport.