On February 23, electric buses were handed over at the MZK headquarters on Modłowa Street in Bolesławiec. They were purchased as part of the project “Purchase of bus fleet (2 zero-emission buses with alternative, electric drive systems) together with accompanying infrastructure.” City and MZK Bolesławiec authorities, a representative of the bus manufacturer and the media took part in the ceremony.
How much did the investment cost, how many kilometres can the bus travel on a single charge, how does charging work and what top speed can the bus reach?
MZK Bolesławiec Director Andrzej Jagiera spoke about the buses. President Piotr Roman and a representative of Solaris also took the floor.
The project received funding under RPO WD 2014–2020. Its total value is PLN 4,792,080 gross. It is co-financed by the European Union at 85 percent. “The Urbino 8.9 LE electric buses have a 160 kW motor. The energy needed to power it is stored in Solaris High Energy batteries with a total capacity of 160 kWh. They are recharged via a plug-in connector. Solaris also supplied equipment for replenishing the energy together with the buses. Each bus can carry 63 passengers at one time, including 24 seated passengers,” says Andrzej Jagiera, president of MZK in Bolesławiec.
The buses are 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 has USB sockets that allow passengers to charge their mobile devices. The buses also feature a passenger information system, including video surveillance and a fire detection and extinguishing system. The drivers’ cab is air-conditioned. The bus can travel approximately 120 km without needing to recharge its batteries.
Bolesławiec President Piotr Roman points out that purchasing zero-emission buses and introducing free public transport throughout the city are part of efforts to improve air quality by reducing low-stack emissions. He also announced the purchase of another electric bus. To this end, an application for funding was submitted for the project “Zero-Emission Public Transport in the Urban Municipality of Bolesławiec” under the “Green Public Transport” Priority Programme. The project concerns the purchase of a zero-emission bus powered exclusively by an electric motor, together with accompanying infrastructure.