Solaris has won a tender to supply up to 45 double-articulated Urbino 24 electric buses to operate in Liège, Belgium.
This marks the largest tender for double-articulated buses that the Polish manufacturer has secured to date.
Wallonia’s regional transport company, Opérateur de Transport de Wallonie (TEC), which manages public transport in Liège, has placed the first order under this tender for 18 buses.
The initial batch of five buses is set for delivery in 2025, while the remaining 13 units will arrive in 2026.
The Urbino 24 electric buses are 24 metres long, enabling high passenger capacity. They have also been designed with Solaris’s MetroStyle option, which aims to give the vehicles a tram-like appearance.
Olivier Michard, Chief Commercial Officer at Solaris said:We are especially delighted to deliver Urbino 24 electric buses in the unique MetroStyle design to Liège. These exceptional zero-emission buses will support sustainable and convenient public transport in the city.
Each of the double-articulated buses will be powered by two electric axles, with energy supplied by Solaris High Energy batteries, which have a total capacity of approximately 800 kWh. The buses will be charged through a plug-in connection.
In addition, the buses will be equipped with several advanced features, including:
Driver Assistance Systems: The buses will feature a 270° camera system to monitor the surrounding area, as well as cameras replacing traditional mirrors for enhanced visibility.
Passenger Comfort: The buses will offer 50 seats and USB charging points for passenger devices. The interior will also be illuminated by energy-efficient LED lighting.
Fleet Management: Each bus will include Solaris’s eSConnect diagnostic tool, designed to improve operational efficiency and simplify maintenance for operators.
Solaris first introduced the 24-meter Urbino bus at Busworld Europe in 2019. The model was developed exclusively as a zero-emission platform, available in both electric bus and trolleybus configurations.
Solaris has already delivered 50 double-articulated buses, including 14 electric models currently operating in Aalborg, Denmark, and 36 double-articulated trolleybuses deployed in Prague and Bratislava.
