Solaris has won a tender for the delivery of as many as 30 Urbino 12 electric buses to AMT (Azienda Mobilità e Trasporti SpA) in Genoa, Italy. The coastal city wants to replace its fleet with electric buses only by 2025. The value of the new contract exceeds €15 million.

According to the agreement, the vehicles will be delivered in the first quarter of 2022.

The carrier decided to use Solaris High Energy batteries with a capacity of more than 250 kWh, in which the energy will be charged via a plug-in connector. Each of the Urbino 12 electric in Genoa will have two plug-in connectors—on the right and left above the front wheel arch. The drive unit will be a 220 kW central motor.

The interior of the Urbino 12 electric can accommodate 24 seated passengers. Climatic comfort will be ensured by a CO₂ heat pump. The complete driver’s cabin will additionally facilitate the driver’s work, and the safety of driving will be increased by MirrorEye cameras instead of side mirrors, which increase the field of view, but also improve visibility in strong sunlight, in rainy weather and after dark. Moreover, thanks to this solution, the vehicle is narrower, which increases its aerodynamics and allows easier maneuvering in the narrow and narrow streets, which are common in Genoa.

To increase safety during the coronavirus pandemic, the carrier has opted for an internal air purification system that will help stop the spread of the virus. In addition, the interior of the bus will be covered with a nanotechnology-based transparent protective coating with microscopic ceramic particles.

More than half of the electric buses that run on Italian streets are Solaris vehicles; in 2020 the manufacturer had almost 70% of the electric bus market share.