Solaris has delivered the Urbino 18 electric bus to Berlin, marking the world’s first series-produced model to feature a battery passport. The bus is equipped with Solaris High Energy batteries, offering a capacity of approximately 700 kWh. This vehicle is the first of 50 articulated electric buses ordered by BVG Berlin in late 2023, with the full order expected to be completed by 2025. All buses in the order will be equipped with battery passports.
Starting February 18, 2027, under the new EU Regulation (2023/1542), a digital battery passport will be mandatory for every battery, including those used in electric vehicles.
A battery passport is a digital document that provides detailed information about a battery – its composition, origin of materials, environmental impact and data necessary for proper recycling. Required data includes information on the chemical composition, critical raw material content, carbon footprint, and share of renewable materials. Information on the battery in the Urbino 18 electric buses operated by BVG Berlin is available by scanning the QR code taped to the component.
The document aims to enhance transparency across the entire battery lifecycle, from raw material extraction and usage to recycling. Electric vehicle batteries contain valuable and rare materials, making their responsible management essential for conserving natural resources and minimizing environmental impact. The battery passport facilitates the tracking of materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, ensuring ethical and sustainable sourcing. Additionally, access to detailed data on battery composition and environmental impact supports more efficient recycling and the optimal use of renewable materials.
Solaris is the European leader in e-mobility, ranking first in terms of the total number of zero-emission buses – battery and hydrogen – delivered since 2012. Solaris buses equipped with batteries include not only electric buses, but also hydrogen vehicles and trolleybuses. To date, Solaris has delivered over 5,000 zero-emission vehicles, with orders continuing to grow. As e-mobility expands, the number of batteries in use increases, making responsible management of this strategic zero-emission transport component essential. The company’s structures include the Solaris Battery HUB, a battery competence centre that comprehensively manages all battery-related operations and advances the development of a circular economy for lithium-ion manages battery operations.
