The third “electric” bus in the fleet of the Municipal Transport Company in Bolesławiec took to the streets of the City of Ceramics for the first time on January 2. As Andrzej Jagiera, president of the municipal company, points out, vehicles of this type are not only emission-free, but also three times cheaper to operate.
The municipal authorities have already announced a tender for another such bus.
Let us recall. In December last year, we reported that an electric bus was handed over in Bolesławiec. It was purchased for the project “Zero-Emission Public Transport in the Bolesławiec Municipality.” This is the third zero-emission bus in Bolesławiec. As early as February, Bolesławiec joined the group of Polish cities using electric buses. At that time, two Urbino 8.9 LE electric buses took to the city’s streets.
The new acquisition for Bolesławiec’s MZK is also a Solaris Urbino electric. It is a quiet, completely zero-emission bus that guarantees low operating costs.
The Urbino 8.9 LE electric bus has a 160 kW motor. The energy needed to power it is stored in batteries with a total capacity of 211.2 kWh. A 60 kW charger was purchased to charge the batteries. Charging takes place via a plug-in connection.
The bus can carry 60 passengers at a time, including 24 seated passengers. Among other features, the bus is equipped with destination displays adapted to the needs of people with visual impairments and a ramp for people with mobility disabilities. USB sockets in the passenger area allow passengers to charge their mobile devices.
The buses also have a passenger information system, including a video surveillance system and a fire detection and extinguishing system. The bus is also equipped with hands-free devices announcing stops. The bus can travel approximately 200 km without needing to recharge its batteries.
The agreement to purchase an electric bus for public transport in Bolesławiec was signed in December 2021. It was signed by Bolesławiec Mayor Piotr Roman and Waldemar Wlazło, Sales Director for the South-Western Region at Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. The price for delivery of the contract subject—the bus and charger—is PLN 2,642,040.
Mayor Piotr Roman reminds residents that free public transport has operated in Bolesławiec since June 2018 and is being maintained despite the difficult budget situation. Zero-emission buses and free public transport are important elements in efforts to improve air quality in the city—the bus can replace approximately 20 passenger cars. This means that during rush hour, around 400 fewer vehicles may take to the city’s streets.
– Bolesławiec’s municipal transport carries 3 million passengers annually – says Andrzej Jagiera, president of MZK in Bolesławiec. In the near future, MZK plans to install a 50 kW photovoltaic system. The operation of electric buses in Bolesławiec to date has shown that their operating costs are lower than those of conventional combustion-powered vehicles.