Solaris Urbino 40 electric to make world premiere in Chicago next week

Solaris has revealed in the last few weeks some glimpses of its US-headed Urbino 40 electric ahead of the North American model’s world premiere at APTA TRANSform & EXPO in Chicago on October 5 at 3 p.m.

New images released by Solaris show the exterior and passenger compartment of the 40-foot battery-electric bus, which has been developed specifically for the United States and Canada.

According to official information from Solaris, the batteries are installed on the roof and provide a total capacity exceeding 500 kWh. The manufacturer states that the configuration delivers a range of more than 150 miles, allowing full-day route operation without intermediate charging.

Solaris currently has orders for ten electric buses in North America: King County Metro has ordered two 40-foot and two 60-foot vehicles, while San Francisco has contracted three standard and three articulated buses. “Since these initial contracts are not subject to Buy America requirements, the buses will be manufactured at our facilities in Poland. Our longterm strategy, however, is to establish production capacity in the United States. To achieve this, we plan to leverage the existing manufacturing footprint of CAF’s rail facility in Elmira, New York, which will serve as a natural base for Solaris’ future U.S. operations”, told us Félix Fernández, CEO of CAF USA and President of Solaris North America. A larger order of trolleybuses was achieved in Canada.

Solaris Urbino 40 electric: 65 mph top speed and 20%+ gradients

The 40-foot, or 12.19-metre, Urbino electric uses a central electric motor. Solaris states that the drivetrain allows the bus to negotiate gradients exceeding 20% and reach a maximum speed of 65 mph.

The North American model uses a low-floor area at the front of the passenger compartment, followed by a raised rear section, resulting in a Low Entry configuration that represents the industry standard’s in North American transit.

The exterior has also been configured for North American requirements, with features including a front-mounted bicycle rack and dedicated lighting equipment.

The Urbino 40 electric can accommodate up to 41 seated passengers. Of these, 22 seats are accessible from the low-floor section of the vehicle.

Two fully ADA-compliant wheelchair spaces are provided. Solaris has also adopted a 2-2 door configuration, with two doors at the front and two further doors for passenger boarding and alighting.

The American Urbino is substantially redesigned compared with its European counterpart. It is wider, has a longer wheelbase and, as mentioned, adopts the low-entry layout typical of the North American market, requiring changes to the frame, running gear and body structure. The rear has no windscreen and uses larger circular lamps arranged vertically, replacing the small horizontal units found on European Urbino range.

In brief

• What battery capacity does the Solaris Urbino 40 electric have?
  Solaris states that its roof-mounted batteries provide more than 500 kWh.
• What is the stated range?
  The manufacturer specifies a range exceeding 150 miles.
• How many passengers can be seated?
  The bus provides up to 41 seats, including 22 accessible from the low-floor area.
• What is its maximum speed?
  Solaris states a top speed of 65 mph.