Rietze 1:87 Solaris Urbino 12 Electric Bus: ICB Frankfurt Bus Line

Detailed plastic model bus

Solaris Urbino 12 is a series of 12.0-metre low-floor buses from the Solaris Urbino series designed for public transport, produced since 1999 by the Polish company Solaris Bus & Coach in Bolechowo near Poznań in Poland. Since 2010 there is being produced a hybrid version, and from 2013, there is a purely electric version. It has a length of 12.0 metres, replacing the Neoplan N4016.

Solaris Urbino 12 series were the first of the new series of Solaris 12.0 metre buses. It is the most popular model series in the history of the brand. Urbino 12 debuted in mid-1999 during an International Trade Fair. Since the turn of 2001-2002 the series produced its second generation. Since 2005 the series had produced the third generation of the bus. During the Transexpo Trade Fair in 2008 in Kielce the new prototype for the Solaris Urbino series was branded as the New Edition Generation 3.5". The structure for the fourth generation uses the same one like that of the third generation of buses. The refurbished interior has more lighting located behind the green overhead panels. The panel extends for the entire length of the bus roof in the central part of the bus. Another innovative solution was to hide the engine compartment with first passengers of the bus.

Solaris Urbino 12 series buses are produced in diesel versions (which meet the standard for Euro VI). Since 2005, there is a variety of LPG CNG. The most sold with diesel engines are from DAF Trucks. Less frequently used sold were MAN engines. They have been used mainly to 2004, and again for a short period from 2006, but due to the policy of the company to only supply vehicles only tailored for CNG. Alternatively, the manufacturer began to use the Cummins ISBe4 250B type diesel engines with the standard Euro IV and ISBe5 250B in Euro V.

The Urbino 12 LE buses are produced for low-entry suburban variety with diesel, CNG or biogas power.

Graphic symbol of Solaris Urbino 12 model is green dachshund, placed on most buses, always on the front wall on the right side of the vehicle. With the introduction of the third-generation models the look of the graphic symbol has been slightly modified.

The in-the-City Bus GmbH (ICB) was established in 1992 by the transport company Sippel based in Hofheim am Taunus founded as a 100 percent subsidiary. In 1999, Stadtwerke Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt am Main mbH (VGF) initially acquired 51% of the shares and bought the entire company on January 1, 2006, which was now a 100 percent subsidiary of VGF. As of September 1, 2014, the shares were fully taken over by Stadtwerke Frankfurt am Main Holding.