Solaris Urbino 18

The first generation Solaris Urbino 18 was produced from the second half of 1999. This model was to supplement Solaris' offer on large buses, 18-metre buses for public transportation services. The first Solaris Urbino 18 bus unit went to PKA Gdynia in 1999, it was also the only new low-floor articulated bus bought in 1999 by transport companies in Poland.[9] Initially, the 18-metre buses did not sell well because the transportation companies preferred smaller and cheaper 15-metre vehicles.[10] The bus market expanded between 1996 and 2002, which resulted in the later increase in demand for 18-metre buses.[11] In total, cities in Poland bought 12 units of the Solaris Urbino 18 First Generation. Articulated vehicles were mainly built for export, most Solaris Urbino 18 were bought by a company from Berlin and Riga. A characteristic feature of the bus are the painted railings instead of clear varnish yellow paint.[12]

Solaris Urbino 18 Second Generation.

From the first half of 2002 Solaris produced the second-generation models, the vehicles were treated as a temporary solution before the target model of third generation buses. Since the spring of 2005 the company produced the third generation of the bus. On the basis of structure of the Solaris Urbino 18 the tram Solaris Trollino 18 is being built in Bolechowo.[13]

Third generation Solaris Urbino 18 in Riga

A major order by MZA Warsaw in 2005, resulted in the significant increase of the sale of the Solaris Urbino 18 in Poland.

In December 2006, Olsztyn was the first Polish city to receive 8 units of the Solaris Urbino 18 model which meets the Euro V qualification, which came as standard for new vehicles in 2009.[14]

Since 2005, there are variants of using LPG and CNG.[15] The first Solaris Urbino 18 CNG went to Lublin in November 2006, in October 2009 another was sold to Radom in Poland. The second bus was intended to go to Norway, but the contract was reversed, and it is used as a test vehicle. A low-entry version was built which is named Solaris Urbino 18 CNG LE. Like the previous vehicle, it now serves as a test vehicle.[16]

Solaris Urbino 18 Hybrid

The first generation of Solaris Urbino 18 Hybrid was built between 2006 and 2008.[17] From the second half of 2008, the models are built in the second generation. They have been produced by the use of the similarities of the Solaris Urbino 18.[18]

The characteristic of the Urbino 18 is a green dachshund. Various hybrid versions include specific symbols. The hybrid models have a dachshund which is in between two hearts which symbolise the two type of power.[19]

During the production of the Solaris Urbino 18 Hybrid model, there have been implemented four types of hybrid power systems. The different versions can be distinguished by the difference in the interior, like that of the Paris transportation system BRT type - BHNS, which differentiates from the Solaris Urbino series bus family.[20]

From the autumn of 2010, 18 buses have been produced with the Allison I or Allison II systems.[21]

Fourth generation Solaris Urbino 18

On the 24 September 2014, after ten years of production of the third generation Solaris Urbino, Solaris Bus & Coach unveiled a new generation of Solaris buses. During this year's trade fair in Hannover at the world premiere (end of September) and at the Transexpo Trade Fair in Kielce in early October Solaris showed two prototypes - Urbino 12 and Urbino 18 in their fourth generation, and will in the future include other models in this generation like the Urbino LE and Urbino Hybrid.[22] The new buses are more durable, lighter and more refined in terms of design and construction when compared to the previous generation models. The noise was also reduced and there is no vibration throughout the vehicle. The entire vehicle is illuminated by lights with led technology.