When electric bus ventures out of town: Solaris Urbino 15 LE electric bus

Is it possible for electric buses to go also beyond city limits? Public transport e-mobility is yet another stage in the advancement. An excellent ecological alternative to the combustion buses currently used in this segment has appeared on the market. Solaris Urbino 15 LE electric bus is the first item in the electric portfolio of Solaris to venture beyond city limits – the vehicle meets requirements of both the first and the second vehicle class, and of both categories at the same time, which makes it possible for operators to plan zero-emission routes not only within the city confines but also beyond these.

The latest solutions of energy storage systems also guarantee the reliability of vehicles on intercity routes. The manufacturer’s three-axle model uses the latest generation Solaris High Energy batteries with a total capacity of 470 kWh. Thanks to this, the Urbino will cover a distance of up to 250 km on a single charge in real conditions. It is therefore not a range promise based on test track simulations. It is a real guarantee when the bus is fully occupied by passengers, working air conditioning and various terrain shapes. At the same time, it is worth remembering that with the appropriate infrastructure for charging the bus, present in strategic places of transit (e.g. on loops), its operability will be uninterrupted.

Perfect for various customer needs

The first two Solaris Urbino 15 LE electric were made chiefly with Scandinavian operators in mind. That is also why the presented bus will feature special solutions in compliance with Busnordic norms and the so-called Scandinavian package. Bearing in mind the tough climate conditions, the designers made sure that both thermal and travel comfort are ensured during rides. Vehicles of this type may contain other components that facilitate their operation in difficult conditions – for instance additional high beams, a sanding device or a cache for snow chains.

Solaris Urbino 15 LE electric – test it with us: 

„Urbino 15 LE electric is a completely zero-emission alternative in this class for CNG-fuelled buses available to all operators seeking a tri-axle LE bus for city and intercity transport”

Petros Spinaris, Solaris Board Member responsible for sales, marketing and customer service.

Ultra-comfortable journey

To make bus travels a tempting alternative to those made by cars, it must offer passengers maximum comfort and convenience, guaranteeing rest. This means not only quiet and smooth engine operation or less vibrations. The air-conditioned interior of this model has 53 seats (and up to 65 in the two-door version!). Two of them are unfolded – this is a solution known from the segment of coach buses used on long-distance routes. In addition, the three seats have ISO-FIX, a system that allows to attach child seats.

One of the components that affects driving comfort is also safety. Along with this model, the manufacturer used a number of new protective systems. Urbino 15 LE electric is fully compatible with y eSConnect – remote fleet management system [read more HERE], which provides full telemetry, data analysis and servicing not only for defects that have already occurred, but also for those that may occur in near future.

The interactive driver’s panel with touch screens combines many advanced security functions. Starting with warnings advising the fastening of seatbelts, automatically switched on lights and windscreen wipers, wide-angle cameras in lieu of rear-view mirrors that ensure excellent visibility, and ending with the active driver assistance system Mobileye Shield+. These innovative solutions render the problem of so-called blind spots void for all times. What is more, the Mobileye Shield+ notably lowers the risk of direct collisions with pedestrians and vehicles, by detecting their presence around the vehicle and notifying the driver about them using audio and visual alerts.

Urbino 15 LE electric – more technical details

The heart of the Urbino 15 LE electric is 300 kW electric motor. To boost efficiency and to reduce energy consumption even further, the propulsion was made in the innovative SIC technology, i.e. by using silicon carbide-based circuits. The motor is liquid-cooled, whereas the driving power is transmitted to the second axle of the vehicle.  This model features an air conditioning system with a heat pump function, which uses heat drawn in from outside to reach the right vehicle temperature. This solution allows to raise the energy efficiency of the vehicle, which translates directly to a widened driving range. The device uses carbon dioxide as the working fluid. Crucially, for the first time in the company’s history, this bus was designed solely for the purpose of zeroemission drivelines.