Seven Solaris hybrid buses for La Chaux-de-Fonds

This summer, seven climate-friendly Solaris Urbino 18 Hybrid buses will be delivered to the Swiss watchmaking city of La Chaux-de-Fonds. For the first time, long-standing Solaris customer Transports Régionaux Neuchâtelois chose articulated, diesel-electric hybrid buses.

Solaris buses are a byword not only for sustainability and environmental protection, but also for highest quality standards that are a match for even the most challenging of operational requirements. These features won over Swiss operator Transports Régionaux Neuchâtelois, which provides bus and rail services in the canton of Neuchâtel. The new Solaris hybrid buses will be used on city services in La Chaux-de-Fonds, one of the region’s transport hubs.

“We are very pleased that an increasing number of countries chooses our eco-friendly city buses. They represent environmental protection as well as sustainable transport – exactly what the future needs”, said Małgorzata Olszewska, Solaris Director Global Sales & Marketing.

The Solaris Urbino 18 Hybrid is one of the cleanest buses of its class. The Allison Transmission-supplied hybrid system combines electric motors delivering a total of 150 kW with a 181 kW Cummins diesel engine. Energy recuperated during deceleration is stored in batteries, ready to be used the next time the bus accelerates. This enables the diesel-electric drive train to use up to 25 percent less fuel than conventional diesel buses. Emissions of harmful substances such as particulate matter are even reduced by as much as 78 percent.

La Chaux-de-Fonds, located 1,000 metres above sea level in the Swiss Jura Mountains and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2009, will be the 23rd city to benefit from the environmental advantages of Solaris hybrid buses.