Sustainability Report
2021

We are changing the
image of public transport

Full version

Solaris Bus & Coach in 2021

We delivered
1,492
buses and trolleybuses
35%
of them are
zero-emission
41%
of our manufacturing output are vehicles with alternative drive systems
We delivered
346 e-buses
119 trolleybuses
54 hydrogen buses
to 45 European cities
We are the European leader in sales of zero-emission buses with an over
15%*
* European market, excluding the UK and Ireland. Source: CME Solutions, Chatrou.

Our vision of sustainable cities

We strongly believe that e-mobility may respond to the challenges posed by intensifying urbanisation. Clean, quiet and safe public transport significantly contributes to a healthier and more habitable city. It also translates into lower emissions of harmful substances and, as a consequence, reduced risks to future generations and the environment.

Modern cities are resident and environmentally friendly, featuring easily accessible, safe and comfortable public transport serving as the bedrock for the development of diverse sustainable mobility solutions. The city of the future is a space of advanced social progress powered by green energy. It is also a place where natural, ecological and environmental revitalisation takes place.

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Solaris zero-emission vehicles

Electric vehicles do not release any greenhouse gases, ensure a greater degree of travel comfort and, due to their low noise levels, improve the quality of life in cities.

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Battery-powered vehicles fit perfectly into the requirements of urban traffic. The wide range of options in terms of bus lengths, engines, battery types and charging options make them easy to adjust to the specific features of different cities, climates, traffic characteristics, passenger volumes on distinct bus routes and even topography.

A zero-emission drive system, innovative and safe Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), modern components and comfortable interior make them a real green alternative to diesel transport in urban areas.

The energy source for these vehicles is hydrogen. It is turned into electricity in a fuel cell which serves as a miniature power generator on board the vehicle. The electricity generated in the cell is transferred directly to the drivetrain, while surplus energy is stored in batteries and used on an as-needed basis, for instance during acceleration. The only by-products of the chemical reaction occurring in the fuel cell are water and heat. Harnessing hydrogen technology in power generation enables buses to cover long distances in a completely emission-free manner.

These are powered by electricity drawn, just as in the case of electric trams, from an overhead powerline network. However, unlike trams, they do not need rails. These quiet vehicles produce no local emissions either. They may feature additional batteries that are charged en-route using the In-Motion-Charging system enabling them to operate even without a connection to overhead wires.

Innovation in sustainable public transport is one of Solaris’ key values and the foundation of our competitive advantage

This means significantly longer vehicle ranges while maintaining the same battery weight, which translates into increased energy efficiency of an electric bus.

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This is a precise diagnostics tool for bus fleet monitoring and management. It enables operators to efficiently manage their electric bus fleets and to use them in an optimal manner which, in turn, translates into energy consumption savings. The system may also be easily applied for the effective management of fleets featuring other types of drive systems.

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Solaris buses may be fitted with a device that draws a spatial map using AR markers. This spatial visualisation of the vehicle will enable remote delivery and acceptance of vehicles, inspections and maintenance service tests or repairs with an option to record working time. Apart from the obvious economic benefits of this solution, the significant reduction in the environmental impact of these activities is also of considerable significance.

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Feasibility studies are advanced calculations and simulations carried out for customers in order to perfectly match electric buses, their amenities, features and equipment, number, battery technology and charging method to the specific needs of the cities where they will be operated. To this end, we analyse a broad range of data and information, including the number of stops, passengers, the timetable at the respective location, the topography and climatic conditions. Our broad offering and extensive experience enable us to provide customers with optimal solutions in terms of batteries, vehicle lengths, drive systems, climate comfort systems, amenities, features and equipment.

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This is one of Europe’s most innovative charging parks. This new space is a place where all charging and discharging processes, tests of new technologies and functionalities as well as demonstrations of innovative solutions for our customers take place. The Park also supports the Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) functionality, that is a bidirectional electricity flow between vehicles and the grid. This technology enables the discharging of buses for test purposes and the use of vehicles as mobile electricity storage facilities.

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Environment

We take responsibility for our products throughout their life cycle and make relentless efforts aimed at minimizing our environmental impact, including through a reasonable use of available resources.

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Life Cycle
Assessment

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In 2021, we assessed the environmental impact of electric and hybrid vehicles throughout their life cycle (Life Cycle Assessment, LCA). In April 2022, we obtained Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) labels for our Solaris Urbino 18 electric and Solaris Urbino 12 hybrid models.

Environment

We take responsibility for our products throughout their life cycle and make relentless efforts aimed at minimizing our environmental impact, including through a reasonable use of available resources.

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We measure our
carbon footprint

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Environment

We take responsibility for our products throughout their life cycle and make relentless efforts aimed at minimizing our environmental impact, including through a reasonable use of available resources.

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We handle
waste responsibly

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We reduce waste generation on our part and properly sort and store waste to enable the largest possible degree of recycling and recovery.

  • None of the waste we generate ends up in landfills
  • 67% of the waste generated in our manufacturing operations has been recycled

Environment

We take responsibility for our products throughout their life cycle and make relentless efforts aimed at minimizing our environmental impact, including through a reasonable use of available resources.

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We keep reducing energy consumption
in our production processes

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Environment

We take responsibility for our products throughout their life cycle and make relentless efforts aimed at minimizing our environmental impact, including through a reasonable use of available resources.

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Second life
of batteries

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The purpose of the project is to create a prototype electricity storage system utilizing spent bus batteries

People

Our employees are our greatest asset. We wish to provide them with comfortable, competitive and fair working conditions as well as good opportunities for development. We foster a work culture based on joint responsibility, dialogue and mutual respect. We believe that only by following this approach can we pursue the company’s strategy and evolve as an organisation.

By taking various activities in the area of employee experience and by securing stable employment and broad career development prospects, we also ensure that people want to build their future with Solaris.

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We are committed to the continuous development of all our employees. We are convinced that the available training opportunities not only significantly contribute to the pursuit of our strategy, but also empower our staff by enhancing their professional development and continuity of employment and increasing their job satisfaction.

We are committed to enabling our employees achieve work-life balance more easily, thus helping them take care of their personal relations and avoid professional burnout. To this end, we offer a broad range of fringe benefits and an extensive bonus system.

We offer the following solutions to support the achievement of work-life balance by our employees:

  • flexible working hours
  • equivalent working time
  • home office
  • individual work schedule on request

Our ambition is to create a friendly workplace for all employees, regardless of any differences.

The health and safety of our employees are paramount to us. We have put in place various occupational health and safety rules to be able to consistently and effectively manage the occupational health and safety area in all our plants.

Product
safety

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In the process of designing and manufacturing our vehicles, we pay particular attention to ensuring the safety of drivers, passengers and other road users. We make sure that the materials we use satisfy stringent standards. We fit out our buses with a range of advanced safety systems to support drivers in their daily work.

Relations with
the local community

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We are fully aware that by exerting an impact on the natural environment, we also affect the life and functioning of local communities.

Corporate governance

We set ourselves the highest standards of conduct - we comply with the law requirements, as well as adhere to Solaris Group Code of Best Practice adopted in June 2013 and regulations put in place at the CAF Group level, as laid down in the CAF Group Code of Conduct.

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