Solaris has announced the introduction of a new service offering which aims to provide a solution for customers looking to extend their older generation electric buses.
The new service, Zero-Emission Vehicle Retrofit, will see Solaris replace specific vehicle components in older electric buses with more current technology, extending their lifespans.
Solaris has stated that the process will predominantly focus on the replacement of batteries, but will also extend to additional drivetrain elements.
Marco Franza, Chief Services Officer at Solaris Bus & Coach, said:Zero-emission vehicle retrofit is a service built around customer needs, enabling operators with Solaris buses to ensure vehicle maximum benefits at every stage of its life cycle.
Our After Sales department, together with the Battery Hub, responds to the growing expectations of the market, offering a ready-to-use solution for battery bus users taking care of all steps of process up to the old battery disposal.
We are proud to announce the first units retrofitted in MPK Kraków and ready to scale-up this offering in all Solaris certified service points in Europe.
The manufacturer has pledged full customer support throughout the service, including a thorough case analysis, calculation and complete documentation. The new service applies to battery buses, as well as trolleybuses equipped with batteries and IMC systems, with the company also hoping to include hydrogen buses in the future.
Supported by a range of additional processes; the retrofit service will also include the replacement of necessary electrical components, upgrade or installation of a BTMS (Battery Thermal Management System, responsible for battery cooling and heating), updates to the BMS (Battery Management System), and ensuring compatibility of the modified batteries with existing charging infrastructure.
Solaris will look to offer optimal battery solutions based on LFP, NMC, or LTO technologies, with all options tailored to a customer’s needs.
Thus far, the retrofit service has been utilised by MPK Kraków, who has had seventeen Urbino 12 electric and three articulated Urbino 18 electric models renovated as part of a tender-based contract.
