“We promised that by 2024 emissions will be reduced by one fifth, and by 2030 one third of buses will be powered by electricity. The purchase of new electrobuses is one of the steps taken in order to achieve these aims. My aim is to ensure that DPP becomes a leader amongst transport companies in the Czech Republic and uses modern, 21st century technology. Prague will become a city where urban bus public transport will be ensured by quiet, zero-emission vehicles running on alternative fuels, and we a helping Prague meet its climate undertakings through the purchase of the first electrobuses for Prague public transport. We will reduce traffic noise in Prague, contribute to cleaner air that we breathe and to an overall improvement in the environment. I want Prague to be a good place for life, and the DPP bus fleet is going to help achieve this aim,” explains Adam Scheinherr, deputy to the mayor of Prague for transport and chairman of the DPP’s supervisory board.

“By buying new electrobuses, the DPP is fulfilling its strategy and ensuring the conceptual renewal of the bus fleet using alternative fuels and is also meeting Prague’s climate obligation and implementing its the climate plan. It is also the purchase of the first fleet of own electrobuses after several years of testing and pilot operation of various types of electrobuses which we had only leased. As a result of this leasing we tried out various types of technology and gained valuable information. But the actual purchase of these vehicles only constitutes one element in the introduction of zero-emission vehicles. In order to operate them, it will also be necessary to build the associated power and charging infrastructure, which is a demanding process that, in addition to other matters, requires that land ownership rights be settled, and that zoning and planning proceedings be completed, as well as the actual process of building and installing technology, including the search for the suitable technical solutions. And so I am glad that we are managing to meet all the deadlines, and today we can present the first standard 12-metre electrobus to the public. In terms of operation we are prepared. I firmly believe that by the end of this year we will be able to take delivery of the first vehicle, and the first passengers will ride in it in the new year. We expect to take delivery of the remaining 13 vehicles in February next year,” adds Petr Witowski, chairman of the board and CEO of DPP.

“This is the first delivery of electrobuses that we have performed in cooperation with our affiliate company Temsa, which in this case was our subcontractor. Based on findings from previous joint projects, we proposed specific alterations for existing solutions used by our affiliate for its own vehicles. The bodywork was built in Turkey to our specifications. We then added the best from our production – the complete electrical fittings, including batteries and pantograph. We carried out the complete assembly and all the tests in our Plzeň factory. This cooperation resulted in the ideal vehicle for urban public transport, says Zdeněk Majer, Senior Vice-President for Sales of Škoda Transportation Group.

Škoda E’CITY offers a unique solution with double pole charging and galvanically insulated charger in the vehicle. In practical terms this means that in the course of the day, when the bus is in operation, its traction batteries are repeatedly charged via the pantograph from the existing infrastructure for tram power lines or the trolley bus power lines being planned for the future. DPP already has infrastructure for this type of charging prepared at the terminal stops Strašnická and Želivského. Charging here will take 15-30 minutes and will top up part of the battery’s overall capacity, allowing the bus to complete another circuit on the line. The advantage of this solution is the ideal control of the vehicle’s energy balance and, most importantly, the low costs for charging infrastructure. Electrobuses with this type of charging have a longer real daily range and greater flexibility for deployment on various routes. Moreover, Prague will get advanced energy management of the entire vehicle fleet from Škoda Transportation Group, which will allow economically effective charging of batteries and extend their life span.

Technical information about electrobus Škoda E‘CITY

The new electrobus for DPP is of the type Standard (Sd) for urban lines, it is 12 metres long and its design speed is 80 km/h. It is in the new livery of Prague Integrated Transport (Czech acronym PID) vehicles, and its technical specifications comply with the PID quality standard. E’CITY is a fully low-floor, zero-emission, battery-powered bus with a guaranteed range on a single charge of more than 100 km for the entire design life of the batteries, including heating and cooling of the interior. The battery capacity is up to 150 kW and charging is via a double pole pantograph located on the vehicle and onboard galvanically insulated charger directly from the 600 V/750 V DC network. It is also possible to utilise the possibility of overnight plug-in charging at the depot. Air conditioning and heating are also wholly electric. The driver’s cabin is closed in order to ensure greater safety.

Naturally there is space for two prams or wheelchair users and also room reserved for persons with limited mobility. The electrobus has a modern information and processing system, including automatic counting of passengers and equipment for the blind. There is also a CCTV system to ensure passenger safety.

 

Basic technical data about electrobus Škoda E’CITY:

Manufacturer: ŠKODA ELECTRIC a. s.

Length: 12.095 m

Width: 2.55 m

Height: 3.3 m

Wheelbase 5,805 mm

Total maximum weight: 19,000 kg

Maximum speed: 80 km/h

Door count: 3 double doors

Boarding height: 32 cm

Total number of seats: min. 28 (of which 2 tip up)

Total number of passengers: 69

Declared lifespan: min. 12 years

Motor power: 160 kW

Charging performance of fast charging: up to 150 kW

Backup plug-in charging: The vehicle is fitted with a standardised type CCS 2 charging socket.

One of the largest manufacturers of trolleybuses

In the field of wheeled vehicles for public transport, Škoda Transportation Group is one of the largest European manufacturers of trolleybuses. Over the history of trolleybus production, it has delivered more than 14.5 thousand trolleybuses to the domestic and foreign market. Czech trolleybuses operate in approximately thirty countries and three continents around the world – in Europe, Asia and North America.