Solaris to build six electric buses for San Francisco
At the end of 2024, Solaris received its first electric bus order from the USA: King County Metro, the public transport operator in Seattle, ordered four electric buses from the Polish company. The agreement also includes options for up to twelve additional electric buses, which can be called up by several operators. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has now taken advantage of this and exercised the purchase option for six of the twelve potential electric buses.
The SFMTA contract specifically covers three electric solo buses and three articulated buses. “The vehicles will feature specifications closely aligned with those ordered by King County Metro, with the exception of operational and revenue related equipment, which will be tailored to meet San Francisco’s needs,” Solaris announced. The electric buses have are based on a platform specially developed for the North American market that meets all US regulations. “This platform will be equipped with the most advanced battery bus technology that Solaris has developed in its 15 years of experience with battery buses.” However, Solaris does not provide any details about the platform.
In Europe, the twelve-metre-long electric bus is known as the Urbino 12 electric. The battery has an energy capacity of up to 600 kWh. The articulated bus version, the Urbino 18 electric, can be ordered in the European version with up to 800 kWh.
Agata Stańda, CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach, commented: “This order from San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency marks another milestone in our strategy to enter the U.S. market. I would like to thank the SFMTA for choosing Solaris, and we assure them that we will deliver zero-emission battery-electric vehicles that meet all local requirements and offer cutting-edge technology in this segment.”
Julie Kirschbaum, Director of Transportation at SFMTA, emphasises the modern amenities and safety features of Solaris buses. She added, “At SFMTA, we are committed to bringing our riders the best possible experience, and the Solaris buses offer modern customer amenities that make transit more comfortable and accessible. Equally important, these vehicles prioritize operator safety and reliability, which is central to our mission of providing safe, world-class service for San Francisco. This order represents both our commitment to zero-emission technology and our enthusiasm for welcoming innovative partners like Solaris to the U.S. market.”
Solaris is considered one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of electric buses and trolleybuses. As part of its long-term strategy, Solaris is also building on North America as another pillar of its business. Thanks to proven technology, high quality and competitiveness, the company wants to be a strong and reliable alternative for North American transport operators, it writes in an accompanying statement. To date, Solaris has concluded the aforementioned deal for electric buses in Seattle and an agreement for trolleybuses in Vancouver, Canada.
This article was first published by Cora Werwitzke for electrive’s German edition.
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