Lodz is readier than ever to welcome its first electric buses, which will serve the public transport network. In order to make this possible, the Polish city has just purchased an important part of the supporting infrastructure. Last week, the Polish city announced that it has commissioned 17 electric chargers which will be installed at six terminals in the city.
Long-awaited low-emissions transport comes to Lodz
Last Thursday, 1 October, the public transport operator MPK Lodz signed the contract with Polish company Ekoenergetyka – Polska SA based in Zielona Góra for the provision of 17 Volvo chargers. The total amount of the deal exceeds PLN 7.1 million gross (or 1.58 million euros). Its provision will depend on the delivery of the buses to the city.
The Polish company is also tasked with the building of a charging station in the Limanowskiego Depot, where the Volvo electric buses will be stationed. In addition, Ekoenergetyka will also install chargers at six terminals across the city.
The locations of the six fast-charging stations have been selected so as to minimize traffic obstructions. They will be accompanied by 9 slower charging stations in the Limanowskiego Depot, which will be located under the newly built garage for electric buses.
The signing of the contract is a major step in the development of electric mobility in Lodz, but there is a lot more work to be done before electromobility becomes a reality for the local public transport. In order to be able to install fast chargers at the terminals, it will be first necessary to build the connected infrastructure, such as power and telecommunication networks in their respective locations, to divert the interfering pedestrian routes and to build foundations for the charging mast and stations for electric buses.
The low-emissions city transport program of Lodz and the initial purchase of 17 electric buses, together with the construction of infrastructure necessary for their operation, were first announced back in November 2017 with a deadline in May 2020. This spring, MPK – Łódź announced the tender for the purchase of 17 electric buses meant to serve bus lines 80, 83 and 86, which run through the revitalized areas and the city centre. The buses are expected to be delivered at the beginning of 2022.
Source: TheMayor.EU
