MPK signs contract for delivery of electric buses to Kraków

Kraków City Transport (MPK) has signed an agreement with Solaris Bus & Coach for the delivery of emission-free electric buses for passenger service in the Polish city.

Under the signed €2 million contract, the Polish bus manufacturer will supply four Solaris Urbino 8, 9 LE battery-powered buses to the capital of Lesser Poland region by the end of July 2016.

According to Solaris, the buses will be fitted with 80 kWh batteries which can be topped up through either a traditional 20 kW plug-in connection located at the depot or by a pantograph quick charging system that uses energy from a tram traction power supply.

Purchased electric buses to begin regular passenger service in July 2016

Commenting on the signed agreement, Rafał Świerczyński, CEO of MPK Kraków said: The decision to purchase battery-powered buses is based on our care about the natural environment and clean air. Furthermore, we very much wish to provide passengers travelling with Cracow City Transport with the highest comfort.”

Also present at the signing was Proxy for the CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach, Wiesław Cieśla, who added: “It seems that the process of investments in low-carbon energy fleets by public transportation companies becomes unstoppable in modern metropolises. I believe that Cracow passengers in particular will appreciate the fact that the buses are completely emission-free and very quiet. This kind of vehicles will become increasingly popular within the forthcoming years, especially in the city centres.”