Solaris-Skoda Trollino trolleybuses are favorites of European cities

Trollino is the name of a family of low-floor trolleybuses. This urban transport stands out for its low noise level and lack of harmful emissions. In addition to the classic options (only with traction power), Solaris also offers hybrids equipped with additional energy-intensive batteries.


The latter are special supercapacitors. The company also sells models with a range extender powered by fuel cells operating outside the traction line. Today this is a very promising and sought-after direction.


After all, the municipalities of many growing European cities are trying to expand the local electric transport service network. However, the construction of new lines is a very labor-intensive, expensive and slow process. The optimal solution is hybrids that are able to “fold their horns” in the right place and move on autonomously. Solaris-Skoda also took care of this direction.

One of the leading models of the manufacturer

Although many models were produced under the mentioned brand over the course of two decades, today we will focus on a couple of the most famous of them. Over the years, these trolleybuses were assembled at Polish and Czech production facilities and gained well-deserved popularity among consumers from a number of European countries.



Solaris Trollino 15AC is a three-axle trolleybus with a length of 15 meters and a passenger capacity identical to articulated versions of public transport. However, compared to the latter, it has a number of economic and operational advantages. First of all, the simplified design of the machine (the complex hinge is eliminated) and the associated simpler installation of electrical wiring, hydraulics and air distribution systems. Other advantages of the 15-meter version include:

✅ favorable price of the vehicle
✅ easier maintenance
✅ lower operating costs
✅ reduction in electricity consumption
✅ better driving characteristics

As a plus for safer operation, it is also worth mentioning better visibility of the situation both in the vehicle itself and outside it. Its benefits are also noticeable in cases where it is necessary to ensure high throughput for transporting passengers in city traffic.

The differences in handling (compared to the classic 12-meter version) are minimized by the use of rear axle wheels. An important advantage is the identical design of electrical equipment with Solaris Trollino 12. This reduces the requirements for the number of types of spare parts for both trolleybus models.


Modern public transport vehicles for transport in a number of European countries are created by installing Czech electrical equipment in the bodies of the Polish bus manufacturer Solaris. Their main advantage is a completely low floor (barrier-free, combined with a folding platform) and other positive aspects in the design:

✅ use of stainless steel and sheet metal
✅ modern electrical equipment
✅ proven system for lowering the entrance side when boarding and exiting passengers

The Solaris Trollino 15AC, like other types of trolleybuses, is the result of a collaboration between Dopravni Podnik Ostrava, Solaris Bus&Coach and Cegelec. This transport has gained popularity not only in the Czech Republic itself and neighboring Poland, but also in Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, Romania, and other European countries.

Technical equipment of Solaris Trollino 15

The engine manufacturer for this model is Pragoimex and Dopravni podnik Ostrava. During its development and production, we used a wealth of experience gained from the operation and maintenance of traction engines for various models of trams and trolleybuses.


The static converter (Cegelec) is used to charge the battery, power the 24 V mains, drive the compressor and power steering pump unit (3 x 400 V/50 Hz). Regulation of the asynchronous motor is provided by a traction converter mounted on the body together with the electric motor driving the rear axle. It is equipped with asynchronous electric traction equipment TV EUROPULSE from Cegelec.

The trolleybus uses Wabco ECAS air suspension, complemented by hydraulic shock absorbers. ZF Servocom power steering with its own pressurized oil source ensures easy steering. The vehicle is also equipped with an independent electrodynamic brake with recuperation, which has additional pneumatic braking with ABS and ASR.

Articulated and stylish trolleybus Skoda 27Tr

Despite the smaller number in the name, this model is more modern and is still in production. Under the name Skoda 27Tr it was delivered to customers until 2022. The brand name was later changed to T'City 18.


After presenting a prototype in 2009, the Ostrava manufacturer began serial assembly of trolleybus equipment in 2010. This was preceded by thorough test drives conducted in the area of ​​​​the Czech city of Pilsen. Since the middle of the last winter month, its test operation with passengers in Ostrava began. Six months later, traffic started on the Pilsen trolleybus network.

Until 2015, the Skoda 27Tr was already moving confidently along the routes of a number of Czech cities: Zlin, České Budejovice, Ústí nad Labem, etc. The equipment has proven itself very well in many respects, which paved the way for it to the export market. Here's how its delivery history progressed:

✅ Sofia (Bulgaria) – 50 units (2013-2014)
✅ Riga (Latvia) – 38 trolleybuses (2014-2018)
✅ Zilina (Slovakia) – 18 pieces (2017-2019)
✅ Bratislava (Slovakia) – 23 pieces (2023)

Also in 2021, the municipality of the Bulgarian capital ordered another 30 cars of the fourth generation Skoda 27Tr. And in the Czech Republic itself, they have become one of the most common types of local transport, including seven cities and a total vehicle fleet of 157 units.

The expansion continues to this day. The company recently won two more tenders for the supply of Skoda 27Tr in Brno (2021) and Ústí nad Labem (2022). Now the trolleybus fleets of these cities have become the leading users of the model, the first has 40 27Tr cars, the second has thirty. New modifications received increased power (up to 2x250 kW) and a number of other modern design elements.

Further expansion of the geography of supplies

Solaris continues to successfully conquer the market and other European cities. Thus, Solaris Bus & Coach (in cooperation with Skoda Electric) will soon supply 16 Solaris Trollino 24 double-articulated trolleybuses to Bratislava. The contract is worth almost 17 million euros. The Bratislava carrier plans to place new trolleybuses on route 71 with a length of 24 meters and a capacity of up to 160 passengers (60 of which are seats).


At the same time, cooperation with the Hungarian capital is developing. Solaris Trollino are special trolleybuses based on the electric buses offered as Solaris Urbino. A total of twelve Trollino 12s and 36 articulated Trollino 18s have been ordered. All 48 units will be delivered by the end of 2022.

More than five years ago, cooperation began with the municipality of Italian Milan. Trollino 18 trolleybuses for the networks of this city are made with two engines (each 160 kW) and have LTO batteries with an electrical power of 45 kWh. This allows them to travel beyond the air line for a distance of about 15 km. The capacity of each car is 135 people (of which 31 are seats). As we can see, the story of the Skoda 27Tr is far from over, but rather is in full swing.