The ElectronMash plant, part of the Electron concern (Lviv), has modernized 10 previously produced trolleybuses for Lviv by equipping them with autonomous power systems that allow them to travel 15 km on autonomous power, the concern reported on its Facebook page.
According to the press service, the trolleybuses were re-equipped as part of the project “Modernization of Public Trolleybus Transport in Lviv”, which is funded by loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The project cost is EUR900 thousand, or EUR90 thousand per unit.
“Taking into account the first test model, there are currently 11 cars running in the city,” the press service clarifies.
At the same time, refuting some accusations that the modernization is too expensive and the autonomous range of the trolleybuses is too short, the press service of the concern compares the price of 1 km of a newly built trolleybus line in the city – EUR859.6 thousand, which is almost the price of all 10 modernized trolleybuses.
As for the 15 km of autonomous range, the report clarifies that this is the minimum specified by the customer for an annual mileage of 60 thousand km at full load and with climate control on and is designed for a battery life of at least 10 years.
“Even the first test model had an autonomous mileage of more than the optimal 20 km for the city, and the 10 converted trolleybuses have newer and more powerful batteries and modern monitoring and control systems,” the statement said.
In addition, the press service notes, the economic effect of using trolleybuses with high-voltage batteries is 6.6 times higher than their cost.
According to the concern, with a sufficient number of such autonomous rolling stock, even with the existing contact network, trolleybus service can cover more than 70% of Lviv’s territory, and other settlements of the Lviv community will also be within the accessibility zone of such trolleybus routes.
“Therefore, we believe that the decision of Lvivelectrotrans is balanced and economically justified,” the concern’s press service summarizes.
