Electrobus Europe, which sells Ikarus, and Szczecinek City Council signed a contract for the order of electric buses.
Szczecinek, 31.08.2023. Zoltán Sipos, Managing Director of Electrobus Europe, and Daniel Rak, Mayor of Szczecinek in north-western Poland, yesterday signed a contract confirming Ikarus' success in the city's public tender for electric buses.
Under the signed contract, Electrobus will deliver five built in Hungary, fully-electric Ikarus 120e buses to the city within 11 months. For Ikarus, this is the first order from Poland – once a key export market and still regarded as a strategic target country by the Hungarian bus manufacturer - for the type, which has already proved itself in daily use in Hungary and Germany.
Szczecinek has set an outstanding example in promoting and greening public transport, with free public transport for everyone in the city. As a result, the number of public transport users has practically doubled. In addition, the city is expanding its existing fleet of 10 electric buses with the Ikarus zero-emission buses, which, when delivered, will take the oldest internal combustion vehicles off the streets of Szczecinek.
The 12-metre-long, fully low-floor electric Ikarus buses, with a total capacity of 86 passengers, will be delivered in a 3-door version with 27+2 passenger seats.
The vehicles will be equipped with a cutting-edge and safe lithium-phosphate (LFP) traction battery pack with a total capacity of 314 kWh, which, combined with the low energy consumption typical of Ikarus buses, will allow a range of up to 350 km, meaning that they can run continuously and uninterrupted throughout the day. The Polish EkoEnergetyka will supply the charging equipment for the tender-winning buses on a concession basis.
The driver's cabin will be enclosed to match local requirements, and the buses will be equipped with air conditioning, onboard WiFi, USB charging sockets for the traveling public's mobile devices, and, of course, a disabled access area.
No ticketing system will be needed given the fact of free urban public transport. The passenger information system will be supplied by the Polish partner SIMS.
“This is a real milestone in the history of both Ikarus and Electrobus! I am proud that, after almost three decades, Ikarus buses will appear once again on Polish roads. I am particularly pleased that our cooperation can support the city in its exemplary efforts to promote green public transport”, said Zoltán Sipos, Managing Director of Electrobus Europe, who added that “yesterday undoubtedly opened a new chapter in the life of Ikarus. This contract is the most positive feedback and message to the market that Ikarus is ready for international expansion again”.
