Tallinn public transport co conducts trial of Irizar ieTram electric bus

TALLINN - From Thursday to Feb. 20, the Irizar ieTram electric bus, made distinct by its tram-like appearance, will operate on a total of 11 routes in the Estonian capital, spokespeople for the city government said.

Deputy Mayor Andrei Novikov said that in recent years, the city's public transport company TLT has tested several electric buses with a view to continuing the renewal of the bus fleet aimed at switching to zero-emission public transport in Tallinn.

"This time, we are testing an electric bus which in other countries is called a tram on bus wheels -- in other words, a bus that looks like a tram," Novikov said according to spokespeople.  

The CEO of TLT, Deniss Borodits, said that the bus is 100 percent electric, uses 100 percent green electricity and is equipped with five batteries that can be charged via both plug and pantograph at three different speeds: slow, fast and super fast. The estimated range of the bus in our climate is 180-200 kilometers on a single charge.

The 12-meter low-floor bus has air conditioning, passenger counters and a system for informing passengers. The three-door bus has a capacity of 105 passengers and has special features to facilitate boarding and rides for passengers with special needs. Specifically, the bus has a designated area for special needs passengers equipped with buttons and handles, and an accessibility ramp for wheelchair users.

Last week, TLT announced a public procurement for the acquisition of 15 electric buses as part of its drive to continue the transition of the public transport fleet to environmentally friendly vehicles. The results of the procurement will determine which electric vehicles will appear on Tallinn's urban lines already next year, Novikov added.