OREANDA-NEWS. BAE Systems is expanding its global reach in the market for electric drive propulsion systems through an agreement with Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. of Poland. Solaris, a major supplier of city, intercity, and special purpose buses, has delivered more than 14,000 vehicles across 30 countries, and will now offer BAE Systems’ hybrid electric drive propulsion system on its vehicles.

“With Solaris, one of the leading bus manufacturers in Europe, we are poised to expand our European customer base,” said Steve Trichka, vice president and general manager of Power and Propulsion Solutions at BAE Systems. “Our electric drive system will now be offered via seven bus manufacturers worldwide, including four in North America and — with this addition — three in Europe.”

The company’s global fleet of series electric drive propulsion systems exceeds 6,000 today, and is operating in cities such as London, Paris, Boston, Seattle, and Hong Kong. Metropolitan cities such as these use hybrid electric and electric drive technologies to decrease harmful emissions and noise pollution. BAE Systems’ series electric drive system attracts transit operators because of its ability to prevent engine-idling at bus stops using its proprietary stop/start technology. BAE Systems’ Accessory Power System provides all the electric power a bus will need during the stop to keep its accessories running, such as the power steering, air compression, air conditioning, and even heat in colder temperatures.

A bus spends nearly 40 percent of its operation time picking up passengers, and with BAE Systems’ stop/start feature, the bus engine can be turned off during stops, saving both fuel and emissions. Each year, city buses powered by the company’s electric drive systems carry more than 1 billion passengers, saving 13 million gallons of fuel and preventing the release of more than 150,000 tons of CO2.