According to Solaris, the contract is one of the largest electric bus tenders completed in the Czech Republic to date and ranks among the biggest vehicle procurement projects in DPO’s history.
The agreement covers two variants of the 12-metre Urbino electric, each tailored to different operational requirements. One version will offer a range of up to 350 kilometres on a single charge, while the second is designed for routes requiring up to 250 kilometres of range. Solaris says the differing battery capacities will allow the operator to deploy vehicles according to the requirements of individual routes and daily duty cycles.
All buses will be charged via plug-in connections, primarily overnight at the depot. The vehicles will also be equipped with air conditioning, advanced safety systems and standard passenger comfort features.
The order further strengthens Solaris’ position in Ostrava, where the manufacturer has already delivered more than 450 buses and trolleybuses. The latest contract also builds on an existing partnership. In 2021, DPO ordered 24 Urbino 12 electric buses together with charging infrastructure, marking Solaris’ first electric bus contract in the Czech Republic.
The Urbino 12 electric has also evolved since that first Czech order. In 2024, Solaris introduced a major battery update for the model, increasing the maximum installed battery capacity to more than 600 kWh. The revised battery configuration allows operators to optimise vehicles either for maximum range or passenger capacity, depending on route requirements. Solaris has not disclosed which battery configuration will be used for the buses destined for Ostrava, beyond confirming the two range variants of up to 350 and 250 kilometres.
