First rechargeable batteries trolleybus is launched in Chisinau

Chisinau, 3 October /MOLDPRES/ – The first autonomous powered trolleybus assembled in Chisinau was launched today in the presence of Prime Minister of Belarus Andrei Kobeacov and the representatives of Belarusian company "Belcommunmash" that produces trolleybuses purchased by the Electric Transport Company (RTEC) Chisinau.

According to the press service of the Chisinau mayor's office, the trolleybus is fitted with a rechargeable battery set which will permit to travel on city streets with no lines of contact. Thus, the trolleybus can travel 50-60 kilometers without being connected to the contact and can recharge the batteries while driving, being connected to the grid, but also by generating its own energy. The battery lifespan is 10-12 years.

According to Chisinau mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, the serial production of this type of trolleybus "will facilitated access to quality public transport in the suburbs, protect the environment without investing financial resources in the construction of contact networks", stated the city hall’s press release.

By the end of this year, municipal authorities intend to assemble five more units and launch a new line, which will run only self propelled trolleybuses. The cost of a trolley is about 200,000 euros, while the cost for the construction of one kilometer of contact network line is around 7 million lei.

In 2017, the city planned to assemble 20 trolleybuses with batteries in this regard being allocated 60 million lei from the City Hall’s budget. The Electric Transport Company (RTEC) Chisinau purchased 102 new trolleybuses and another 92 units were assembled in Chisinau based upon the cooperation agreement between RTEC and "Belcommunmash" company.

(Reporter P. Beregoi, editor L. Alcaza)