Solaris has delivered the Urbino 18 electric bus in Berlin, the world’s first series-produced model to feature Battery Passport. The bus is equipped with Solaris High Energy batteries, providing a capacity of approximately 700 kWh. The vehicle is the first of 50 articulated electric buses ordered by BVG Berlin in late 2023, with the entire order expected to be completed by 2025. All buses of the order will be equipped with battery passports.
Under the new EU regulation (2023/1542) from February 18, 2027, a digital battery passport will be mandatory for every battery, including those used in electric vehicles.
The Battery Passport is a digital document that provides detailed information about the battery – its composition, material origin, environmental impact and the data required for proper recycling. The required data includes information on chemical composition, content of key raw materials, carbon footprint and share of renewable materials. Battery information on the Urbino 18 electric buses operated by BVG Berlin is available by scanning the QR code taped to the component.
The document aims to increase transparency across the entire battery lifecycle, from raw material extraction and use to recycling. Electric vehicle batteries contain valuable and scarce materials, making their responsible management essential to conserve natural resources and reduce environmental impact. Battery Passport facilitates the tracking of materials such as 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 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. Battery-equipped solaris buses include not only electric buses, but also hydrogen vehicles and trolleybuses. To date, solaris has delivered more than 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 transportation component essential. The company’s structures include the Solaris Battery Hub, a battery capacity center that comprehensively manages all battery-related operations and advances the development of a circular economy for the management of lithium-ion battery operations.
