Solaris has signed two contracts with the Polish operators MZA Varsovia and MPK Poznań for the supply of 50 and 17 electric buses respectively. The combined value of the contracts exceeds €50 million. In both cases, the model chosen is the 18-metre Urbino articulated bus, Solaris' flagship zero-emission vehicle and one of the most successful models among urban transport authorities and operators in the European market.
On the one hand, the city of Warsaw, which has one of the largest electric bus fleets in Europe, mostly supplied by Solaris, has decided to expand its zero-emission fleet. This expansion will be managed through the city's operator, MZA (Miejskie Zakłady Autobusowe), with a new order placed for 50 Solaris electric buses. The units will feature a modular drive system, with the drive components mounted on the roof of the vehicle. This design maximises passenger space and allows for a total capacity of more than 100 passengers.
The collaboration between Solaris and MZA Varsovia began in the late 1990s, and since then, the manufacturer has supplied approximately 1,350 buses to the city's public transport service. A major milestone was reached in 2015 with the delivery of the first Solaris electric buses for Warsaw, marking the beginning of the city's transition towards a more sustainable transport model. In fact, Solaris is about to complete the delivery of the previous electric vehicle order that MZA Varsovia placed in 2023.
The city of Poznań in western Poland is also committed to investing in sustainable public transport. MPK Poznań and Solaris Bus have signed a contract for the purchase of 9 Urbino 18 electric buses, with an option for a further 8 vehicles.
Each of these 17 articulated buses, to be delivered in the second quarter of 2026, will feature a high degree of operating range with a capacity of at least 110 passengers. MPK Poznań already operates more than 300 Solaris buses, including 58 battery-powered buses and 25 hydrogen-powered vehicles.
To date, Solaris has delivered approximately 3,000 electric buses across Europe. Some of the largest fleets of electric buses in major European capitals comprise Solaris vehicles. Besides Warsaw, these include those at ATM Milan (275 electric Urbino buses), Unibuss Oslo (183 electric Urbino buses), and BVG Berlin (133 electric Urbino buses).
Solaris delivers the world's first electric bus with Battery Passport
The Solaris Urbino 18 electric bus recently added to the BVG fleet in Berlin has become the world’s first series-production bus to feature a battery passport. This passport is a digital document that provides detailed information on the origin and composition of batteries, their environmental impact, and the data needed for proper recycling, thus promoting responsible and sustainable management. With the delivery of this vehicle with a Battery Passport, Solaris is 3 years ahead of EU regulations that will require all electric vehicles to be equipped with a Battery Passport from 2027 on.
This is the first of 50 articulated electric buses ordered by BVG Berlin to Solaris at the end of 2023. All these vehicles will feature the aforementioned Battery Passport, with deliveries set to be completed throughout 2025.
This document is designed to increase transparency throughout the battery life cycle, from the extraction and use of raw materials to recycling. Electric vehicle batteries contain a range of different materials, and their responsible management is essential to preserve natural resources and minimising environmental impact. Access to detailed information on composition and environmental impact also facilitates efficient recycling and the optimal use of renewable materials.
It is important to note that as electric transport continues to grow, the number of batteries in use will increase, making responsible management of this key component of zero-emission transport imperative.
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