In Irkutsk this year they plan to buy seven trolleybuses with autonomous drive, able to travel up to 20 kilometers without overhead wires. This will allow them to launch new routes across Akademichesky Bridge, including Sinyushina Gora Airport and Pervomaysky Kirov Square, to assess the pilot projects effectiveness. Also, more than 100 million rubles will be allocated in 2013 to update city transport, including buses of various classes.
Seven trolleybuses with autonomous operation are planned to be purchased this year. The distance they are capable of covering on battery power is 20 kilometers. This will make it possible to launch such trolleybuses on routes where no contact network has been laid. At the same time, the new vehicles are hybrids and can also move while connecting to electric wires.Routes for the contactless trolleybuses are currently being worked out. It is assumed that they will run along two new directions across Akademichesky Bridge: Sinyushina Gora – Airport, Pervomaysky – Kirov Square. This will be a pilot project to assess the effectiveness of both the new trolleybuses themselves and the routes introduced.
In total, in 2013, more than 100 million rubles are planned to be allocated from the budget of the city of Irkutsk for renewing the municipal transport fleet. These funds will be used to purchase 12 medium-capacity buses, four large-capacity buses, as well as seven autonomous trolleybuses. These trolleybuses are manufactured in Novosibirsk. They are equipped with lithium-ion batteries. The trolleybus capacity is 111 people. The cost depends on the specific model and ranges from 6 to 9.5 million rubles.
Based on materials from the press service of the administration of the city of Irkutsk