Skoda E'City debuts on the streets of Prague

Premiere in Prague – DPP, the city transport company, has ordered 14 Skoda E'CITY buses to replace older diesel buses in the fleet – one of them is already in operation on the streets of the Czech capital, and the remaining 13 electric buses are set to follow within a month and gradually enter service from mid-February.

On average, the new electric additions will cover 60,000 km per year each, and their use will save approximately 252,000 liters of diesel fuel and 714 tons of CO₂, according to the transport company. The total value of the order, including possible options, amounts to 207 million CZK (almost 8.5 million euros).

The electric buses will primarily operate on lines 154 (Strasnická - Koleje Jizní Mesto) and 213 (Zelivského - Nádrazí Uhríneves) and on weekends also on line 124 (Zelivského - Zelený pruh).

“We will be deploying the Skoda E'CITY 36BB on three different lines over the next few months as part of a test operation with passengers. We need to collect as much data as possible on the actual traffic in Prague and the vehicle's energy management to prepare the schedules for the regular routine operation of all 14 electric buses from mid-February this year," explains Petr Witowski, Chairman of the Board and CEO of DPP.

As part of its fleet overhaul, DPP plans to purchase up to 100 more electric buses in the next three years and will conduct a public tender for this purpose later this year.

Details about the Skoda E'City

The Skoda E'City is a 12-meter low-floor bus with a built-in speed limit of 80 km/h. It operates in the red-gray livery of the Prague Public Transit Company (PID), and its technical specifications comply with the PID quality standard.

The guaranteed range of the Skoda E'City is stated to be more than 100 km on a single battery charge, throughout the entire lifespan of the batteries, including heating and cooling the interior.

The battery capacity is up to 150 kW, and charging is done via a two-pole current collector on the vehicle and a built-in, galvanically isolated charger directly from the 600 V/750 V DC grid. The current collector is equipped with its own camera to control the correct position and function. It is also possible to charge the Skoda electric vehicles overnight (with CCS-2 plug from the 3x 400 V AC socket) at the depot. Air conditioning and heating are also fully electric. For safety reasons, the driver's cabin is enclosed.

Inside the E'City, there is space for two wheelchairs or prams as well as separate seating for passengers with reduced mobility.

The electric solo bus features a modern information and processing system, including automatic passenger counting and blind passengers' equipment. In addition, a CCTV system (video surveillance) ensures passenger safety.

The Skoda E'City was built in collaboration with its sister company Temsa, which provided the bodywork based on the specified requirements. The complete electrical equipment, including batteries and current collectors, comes from the Skoda workshop. The entire assembly was conducted at the Skoda plant in Pilsen, with the test phase and homologation process carried out in and around Pilsen.

Special Charging System

The Skoda E'City offers a two-pole charging solution with a galvanically isolated charger in the vehicle. In practice, this means that during the day, when the bus is in operation, its traction batteries are repeatedly charged via the current collector from the existing infrastructure for tram power lines or the planned future trolleybus power lines.

The DPP has already prepared infrastructure for this special type of charging at the terminus stations Strasnická and Zelivského. Charging takes 15 - 30 minutes and replenishes a part of the total battery capacity, allowing the bus to make another round on the route.

According to Skoda, the advantage of this solution lies in the ideal control of the vehicle's energy balance and especially in the low costs for the charging infrastructure. Electric buses with this type of charging have a greater actual daily range and more flexibility for use on different routes.

The order also includes energy management for the new DPP electric bus fleet, which enables economical battery charging and is intended to extend battery life.

Technical Specifications of the Skoda E'City Electric Solo Bus:

• Manufacturer: SKODA ELECTRIC a. s., member of the Skoda Transportation Group
• Length: 12.095 m
• Width: 2.55 m
• Height: 3.3 m
• Wheelbase: 5,805 mm
• Maximum gross weight: 19,000 kg
• Top speed: 80 km/h
• Number of doors: 3 double doors
• Entry height: 32 cm
• Total number of seats: min. 28 (2 of which are folding)
• Total number of passengers: 69
• Declared lifespan: min. 12 years
• Motor power: 160 kW
• Quick charging power: up to 150 kW
• Backup plug charging: The vehicle is equipped with a standard CCS 2 charging socket.

What does this mean?

Please do not confuse: Skoda and Skoda Auto are only the same in name - but both are driving e-mobility forward. Now also with new buses.