The mechanical engineering company Belkommunmash is exploring the possibilities of supplying electric buses to Moscow, St Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg, Vitaly Shkuratov, head for marketing and sales in Belarus and Russia at the Management Company of the Belkommunmash Holding Company, reported.
“We are considering exporting electric buses to Moscow, St Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg. The trial operation is almost over in Moscow. It is expected to start in St Petersburg in September. A working group has been set up to work out approaches to the introduction of this transport in Yekaterinburg. The routes are now being defined,” Vitaly Shkuratov remarked.
Belkommunmash produces the E433 electric bus with 38 seats, which can transport up to 153 passengers. This innovative vehicle boasts some advantages over regular buses, trolleybuses, and trams: it is environmentally friendly, highly maneuverable, and more comfortable. The electric bus is powered by electricity just like the trolleybus, although the former uses on-board supercapacitors rather than overhead wires. It takes five minutes to charge the batteries at the bus terminal, which is enough for 13 km. An electric bus consumes 14% less electricity than a trolleybus. It has a wheelchair space with a fixation system and a warning system to alert the driver. The driver lowers the floor at the bus stop to make boarding and disembarking easier. There also are outlets and USB ports to charge gadgets on board the bus.
E433 has already entered passenger service in Minsk. These buses are used on route 59 and on route 43. As many as 20 innovative vehicles are now serving the bus routes of the Belarusian capital. They charge the same fare as the regular transport.
“This kind of transport is very promising for Minsk. We will keep supplying it in future,” Vitaly Shkuratov added. (BelTA/Business World Magazine)
