The awards have not yet been announced, but the data were announced by the commissions at the tender session.

Solaris wins over 400 buses in Rome

It was a very heartfelt competition, especially for the insiders who were able to witness the challenge between three giants: Iveco Bus, Mercedes and Solaris. Solaris won the whole pot, betting on a competitive price of full service, thus winning a tender it had been waiting for for a long time. Specifically, the Polish manufacturer got the better of the CNG vehicle lot by challenging Iveco Bus. Notable absentee, on this specific lot, was Industria Italiana Autobus, which, thanks to Consip, had carpeted the eternal city in recent years with its 12-metre gas-powered vehicles. In fact, even Solaris’ bid sounds like an almost surprise; the Polish manufacturer had in the past year kept well away from tenders for gas-powered buses. The reason? To leave room for the production of electric buses: in the first half of 2023, in fact, Solaris is (again) the market leader for e-buses in Europe.

Mild hybrid buses: Solaris vs Iveco Bus vs Daimler Buses

But let us come to the second lot, focused on mild hybrid technology. Here, as already mentioned, the competition was between Iveco Bus, Mercedes and Solaris. With Mercedes having an important supply of Citaro hybrid in Rome, Iveco Bus with a historic relationship and Solaris which, specifically, had not yet submitted an offer on an Italian tender on this technology. As they say in these cases: good the first!

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The first units are expected to be operating in the capital of the Czech Republic in 2024. DPP will be the first operator in the Czech Republic to have this model in operations.

DPP to have 75% low or zero emission bus fleet by 2030

DPP has chosen the articulated bus model by Iveco Bus for the renewal of its fleet as part of the 2030 Climate Plan for the capital city of Prague. The plan calls for 75% of DPP buses to be completely emission-free or low-emission vehicles.

The articulated Urbanway Hybrid is equipped with the DIWA NXT gearbox by Voith (with mild hybrid module) and the Cursor 9 engine featuring HI-SCR technology. The full low-floor Urbanway Hybrid will be equipped with four double doors and offer a maximum capacity of 130 passengers, including 35 seated. A full air conditioning, automatic passenger counting equipment, a camera system including interior surveillance, front detection, a rearview camera, and side cameras are installed.

Voith 48V hybrid system for the Urbanway Hybrid

As mentioned, the Urbanway Hybrid features a 48 V hybrid solution developed by Voith for the new Diwa NXT gearbox. The Diwa NXT gearbox is combined with a 35 kW peak electrical recovery module, which acts as a starter and generator to recover the kinetic energy accumulated during the deceleration and braking phases, with a high-energy LTO battery (48 V) mounted on the roof. The battery is able to supply 25 kW during the starting phases to relay the Cursor 9 engine, Iveco Bus stresses.

The new solution also features a Stop & Start function, which is activated automatically with no driver intervention.

“We are particularly proud to have been selected by DPP for this important supply and to support the City of Prague on the energy transition of its public transport fleet.  Our success in this tender demonstrates that we fulfill the requirements of cities and that we have the vehicles to meet them: we can provide a transport solution that effectively addresses the operational and environmental concerns that are at the top of the agenda for public authorities,” said Giorgio Zino, Iveco Bus Head of Europe Bus Commercial Operations.

“Prague’s 2030 plan and national or European commitments foresee that 75% of DPP buses will be completely emission-free or low-emission vehicles locally. On the one hand, these are low-emission vehicles; on the other hand, in the event of a blackout or any unexpected situation in the power grid, we will be able to put them into operation without major restrictions and thus provide basic transport services to the capital city Prague, which is our basic duty. Thanks to these buses, we will be able to maintain a certain independence from the charging infrastructure in the future and diversify potential risks”, adds Petr Witowski, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of DPP.

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Under that agreement, public transport companies are allowed to order vehicles directly or make a call for tender targeting chosen suppliers. The Solaris vehicles will arrive to Sardinia in 2024.

ARST to deploy 100 Solaris hybrid buses

Sardinia’s largest public transport company ARST has ordered 100 low-emission Urbino 12 hybrid buses from Solaris. This is a continuation of the 2021 framework agreement with Consip. The vehicles will be delivered to the city of Cagliari, Sardinia. The Italian island already has dozens of the manufacturer’s vehicles on the road. The hybrid buses will be delivered to Cagliari and enter service in 2024.

The Urbino 12 hybrid, which will run on Sardinian roads, will be fitted with a new generation hybrid drive system consisting of a 250 kW electric traction motor and an internal 150 kW Euro 6 combustion engine. This will enable a significant savings in fuel consumption as well as reduction of pollutant emissions into the atmosphere.

The Urbino 12 hybrid has been ordered in a 2-door layout. The comfort of the travellers will be ensured by efficient all-vehicle air conditioning and a spacious and comfortable interior fitted with USB sockets. The vehicles will be equipped with monitoring and a passenger counting system located above each door. A range of comfort solutions will be available to drivers, including an enclosed customised driver’s cabin.

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This is the promise of the manufacturer: “the new-generation Urbanway hybrid delivers 16% fuel savings compared to the standard diesel version and a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 19%, together with a significant improvement in Total Cost of Ownership”. The same technology will be offered on the Crealis range and on the Crossway (that will be delivered in LE Hybrid version starting with 2023).

Deliveries of the Urbanway hybrids in 12 and 18 metre versions will begin at the end of the year.

Hybrid technology for the Crossway as well

Iveco Bus is also extending the next-generation hybrid technology to its Crossway Low Entry model, available for the very first time in Natural Gas and XTL renewable fuel versions to offer local authorities and transport operators an additional solution to reduce their carbon footprint. The Iveco Bus Crossway LE Hybrid has already been presented for tenders in 2022, with deliveries starting in the first quarter of 2023. 

Voith 48V hybrid system for the Urbanway Hybrid

The Urbanway Hybrid features a 48 V hybrid solution developed by Voith for the new Diwa NXT gearbox and the proven Cursor 9 engine. The Diwa NXT gearbox is combined with a 35 kW peak electrical recovery module, which acts as a starter and generator to recover the kinetic energy accumulated during the deceleration and braking phases, with a high-energy LTO battery (48 V) mounted on the roof. The battery is able to supply 25 kW during the starting phases to relay the Cursor 9 engine, Iveco Bus stresses.

The new solution also features a Stop & Start function, which is activated automatically with no driver intervention.

Iveco Bus new generation of buses

“With our new hybrid solution, we are capitalising on our extensive experience in hybrid buses, as testified by more than 2,500 units sold through our Iveco Bus and Heuliez brands, and our leadership in natural gas technology,” explains Stéphane Espinasse, Iveco Bus Head of Sales and Products. “The result is a new generation of hybrid buses that harnesses the advantages of natural gas to deliver further improvements to the sustainable performance of our hybrid Urbanway and Crealis models. We offer our customers a portfolio of sustainable mobility solutions with an energy mix that matches the specific needs of their missions with proven technologies that deliver excellent Total Cost of Ownership.” 

Iveco Bus bets on mild hybrid technology in city bus range

As mentioned above, Iveco Bus is introducing a complete range of low-floor city buses featuring the new-generation hybrid technology, available in Natural Gas and XTL renewable fuel versions. With this new addition, its product portfolio for urban transport now offers a choice of: 

– 12-metre standard and 18-meter articulated Urbanway models equipped with a Cursor 9 engine in Diesel and XTL versions. 

– 10.5-, 12-, and 18-meter Urbanway with a Cursor 9 Natural Gas engine. 

– 12- and 18-meter Crealis in Diesel, XTL and Natural Gas versions. 

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In 2018 the same TTC Toronto received 55 hybrid buses from Volvo’s company Nova Bus. New Flyer has already been delivering e-buses in the city. In September 2020 TTC had 35 e-buses in operation, with 25 to come as a result of a 60-units electric bus tender.

All 202 of the buses will be equipped with BAE Systems’ next-generation Modular Accessory Power System. The buses are also configured with intelligent geo-fencing technology, that through GPS navigation, will turn off the diesel engine and operate in zero-emission electric mode when entering designated areas. 

New Flyer hybrid buses for TTC Toronto

TTC is the third-largest transit system in North America, delivering more than 526 million annual passenger trips through its bus, subway, streetcar, and paratransit services in Toronto, Ontario. TTC currently operates the largest fleet of battery-electric buses in North America. 

The buses modernize TTC’s fleet and propel the agency’s 5-Year Service Plan and 10-Year Outlook, designed to meet the growing demand for transportation in Toronto.

In addition to the awards received and added to backlog, NFI group says that «the forty-foot hybrid-electric heavy-duty transit bus contract also includes 600 options made available to other Ontario-based transit agencies. Agencies can use these additional options to make their own hybrid electric bus purchases, often in a more expedited manner than traditional procurements. As there are no defined quantities allocated to NFI, or any other original equipment manufacturer, from these additional options they are not included in backlog, and will be once a customer purchases a bus under the agreement». 

“NFI’s leadership in hybrid-electric mobility spans 20 years, supplying more hybrid buses in North America than any other manufacturer,” said Chris Stoddart, President, North American Bus and Coach. “Our partnership with TTC started 55 years ago. Since 1968, we have delivered nearly 1,000 vehicles, including 25 battery-electric buses – making New Flyer the only provider of both hybrid-electric and battery-electric buses to TTC. With these new buses, NFI adds the ability to meet green zone regulations through intermittent zero-emission operation, and ultimately, is helping accelerate TTC’s transition to zero-emission and building a more livable GTA.” 

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Barcelona, AMB awards hybrid buses to Solaris

87 Solaris hybrid buses will hit the streets of the sunny metropolis of Barcelona, and the 36 districts that surround it. The 12-metre Urbino 12 hybrid vehicles will join 30 identical models that AMB (Area Metropolitana de Barcelona) ordered in March 2021. This impressive investment is in line with the policy adopted by Catalonia’s largest city to purchase only low- or zero-emission vehicles from 2021. The tender was managed by local operator TMB (owned by AMB), but the newly ordered Solaris buses, like the previous 30 vehicles, will join AMB’s fleet and will serve the entire Barcelona metropolitan area.

All the vehicles ordered will feature equipment similar to that installed in the models ordered in 2021. There will be a hybrid drive system consisting of an electric traction motor and an internal Euro 6 combustion engine producing over 150 kW. Thanks to supercapacitors, which store and use recovered energy, the buses will boast lower energy consumption and therefore lower emissions. Similar energy savings will be achieved with the Arrive & Go system, which turns off the engine when approaching a stop and turns it back on again when leaving. The purely electric operation mode reduces noise and emissions – benefiting city residents. Operating in the Arrive & Go mode, the buses will alert pedestrians to the presence of the electric vehicle with audible signals.

Passenger comfort will be enhanced by full-vehicle air conditioning, USB ports available to all travelers, as well as a modern passenger information system and white LED signs. To ensure the safety of passengers, the plastic parts of the passenger seats will be covered with an antibacterial coating. Safety will also be improved by cameras in place of the traditional side mirrors. This system offers the driver better visibility in bright sunlight, in the rain, and after dark. Drivers will benefit from a range of solutions to enhance their comfort, including an enclosed type of cab tailored to the individual needs of the customer. The Eco Driver Advisor system will be responsible for controlling and aiding economical driving.

Currently, more than 100 Solaris buses run in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, including almost 90 hybrid and 19 electric vehicles. Solaris is the European leader in the sale and production of low- and zero-emission buses. In recent years, Spanish operators – with their green purchases – have turned their market into one of our key ones. when it comes to the transition towards zero-emission mobility. Solaris is one of the main suppliers of zero-emission public transport vehicles in Spain.

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A 220 kWh internal combustion engine is supported by an “electric machine” (48 V) that works as a power generator. This machine is no longer needed for the combustion engine, which results in fuel savings and lower exhaust emissions. The mild hybrid solution marks a natural evolution in energy recovery technology. It is used primarily during two driving activities: acceleration and braking.

In particular, it is during regenerative braking that energy is recovered and stored in an energy storage device. This is then used when the engine is under greater strain, i.e. during acceleration. At that time, the car acts as an electric motor. As a result, mild hybrids release fewer pollutants and are more environmentally friendly.

The Urbino 12 mild hybrid buses for Hanauer Straßenbahn GmbH are low-emission, highly comfortable vehicles equipped with state-of-the-art solutions that make them easy to operate. Maximum safety is ensured, among other things, by the MobilEye Shield+ system, which eliminates the blind spot and warns the driver of pedestrians and cyclists suddenly approaching the vehicle. Three cameras, namely a front-facing camera and two cameras located on the sides of the vehicles, alert the driver whenever a pedestrian or cyclist suddenly approaches the vehicle. vehicles, alert the driver whenever an unexpected object is detected in the vicinity of the bus. The operator also opted for an enclosed driver’s cab to ensure complete working comfort for the driver and to minimize air circulation between the cab and the passenger compartment. passenger compartment. In addition, passengers will benefit from modern LED lighting, built-in USB charging ports and air conditioning during operation.

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A major feature of Series-ER is the Modular Accessory Power System (MAPS), a next-generation component that uses advanced materials for increased electrical efficiency, BAE Systems points out. This order of electric-hybrid applications will benefit from BAE Systems’ newest technology, which is also designed to be integrated on battery-electric and fuel cell powered buses.

BAE Systems Series-ER drives for New Flyer buses

The Series-ER system includes an electric motor, onboard energy storage, and smart controls to create a clean, integrated electric propulsion and accessory power system for the buses. The system also provides zero-emission operation via BAE Systems’ experience with engine stop and start, and geofenced green zone technology. The onboard charger and advanced energy recovery enables Series-ER to deliver zero emissions without the need for grid-connected charging.

“We are supporting SEPTA’s environmental goals with green technology that improves air quality for the greater Philadelphia community,” said Steve Trichka, vice president and general manager of Power & Propulsion Solutions at BAE Systems. “Our electric drive system provides transit operators with a highly reliable, flexible option to bring them one step closer to a zero-emission future.”

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New hybrid buses for ATAC in Rome

The project to replace around 100 Euro 3 vehicles – aged between 15 and 18 years – with an equal number of Euro 6 mild hybrids has thus been completed, with a consequent reduction in pollution. The new buses, produced by Mercedes, are Citaro models with Euro 6 diesel engines. These are mild hybrid vehicles with super capacitors for energy recovery that do not use traction batteries. Thanks to this technology it is estimated that fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 10% compared to a conventional diesel.

All the buses are 12 metres long, with two doors and equipped with the technical standards in use in the company fleet: Avm system, video surveillance, multimedia monitors, fire prevention, LED signs with optimisation for the visually impaired, air conditioning, manual platform. They accommodate 26 seated and 86 standing passengers and have a seat for the mobility impaired.

“In total we are ‘unblocking’ 121 new buses and the aim is to replace 600 buses by 2022, thus eliminating the oldest and most polluting buses. The renewal of the fleet is instrumental in order to polluting less, saving money and investing more in a good service to citizens. We are about to give a significant boost to fleet renewal. Our plan for the renewal of the ATAC fleet until 2026 is worth 500 million, and will then have its highlight with the electric buses, financed with the resources of Next Generation Europe,” said the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri.

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BSAG received 65 Mercedes-Benz Citaro (solo and articulated buses as well as Citaro G hybrid buses) this year and the last. Now five fully electric-powered eCitaro buses are following. The three-door low-floor buses will operate quietly and emission-free in the port city. Using innovative solid-state batteries, the buses have an impressive battery capacity of 441 kWh. Charging sockets on the left and right side will increase flexibility at the bus depot. Daimler Buses is also contributing the charging infrastructure for the five city buses with five fixed charging stations and three mobile units.

In the fully air-conditioned city buses, passengers will sit on fabric-covered City Star Eco seats manufactured in-house by Daimler Buses. Different upholstery colors in gray and red as well as interior walls with needle felt covering will create a cozy ambiance. A special feature is the wheelchair lift at door one. Also noteworthy are two special use areas for wheelchairs and strollers as well as side folding seats opposite door two. The Sideguard Assist turning assistant will provide assistance to drivers and protect vulnerable road users.

Rüdiger Kappel, Head of Fleet Sales Germany at Daimler Buses, handed over the new eCitaro buses to BSAG Board Member Matthias Zimmermann in the presence of Dr. Maike Schäfer, Bremen Senator for Climate Protection, Environment, Mobility, Urban Development and Housing Construction. Kappel said, “We are delighted that Bremen has once again opted for the eCitaro and Citaro following on from recent orders. We are happy to contribute to making the attractive Hanseatic city an even better place to live.”

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