100 new electric busses ply Kazakh capital
A briefing has been held by Astana LRT LLP to discuss the purchase of electric public busses in Nur-Sultan early this Thursday, Strategy2050.kz informs with reference to the press service of the Association of Kazakhstan Automobile Business.
The representatives of Astana LRT and SaryarkaAvtoProm LPP have addressed the briefing.
Bekmyrza Igenberdinov, Board Chairman at Astana LRT, has congratulated the capital’s citizens on the planned purchase of 100 new electric busses.
“100 new electric busses will ply the capital, that is, the shortage in busses will be reduced and the fleet will be renewed with new confortable noiseless busses. The intervals between busses will be shortened, contributing to the reduced waiting times at bus stops,” he said.
Igenberdinov has also marked that the busses are purchased through DBK-Leasing (national leasing operator) under the State programme for renewing the bus fleet with busses manufactured within Kazakhstan. The lease term is 7 years with the annual interest rate of 7%.
According to him, the project will increase tax revenues, create new jobs both during their manufacturing and exploitation. One of the main features is that the busses save 80% of the fuel needed for diesel busses.
Roman Krivopalenko, Chairman of SaryarkaAvtoProm, has elaborated on the technical side and advantages of Yutong busses. According to him, the electric busses are fitted with high-capacity lithium batteries, significantly impacting the range these busses can travel without recharging. The bus’s design makes it possible for it to be charged once a day – at night. This can largely reduce infrastructural investment.
Early this year Nur-Sultan’s first bus fleet has tested the electric bus assembled in Kazakhstan. Taking place at the lowest possible winter temperatures (about below 380C), energy consumption was 0.91 kW per kilometer.
SaryarkaAvtoProm and Atyrau’s bus fleet exposed the buss to the region’s climatic conditions, as well as tested the bus’s battery when traveling remote distances en route Nur-Sultan – Kostanay – Nur-Sultan. The test resulted in positive outcomes, allowing for the necessary assembly and conditions.
France’s 12-meter electronic bus Heuliez Bus GX 337 Electric starts at 460 000 euros and Germany’s MAN Lion’s City E begins at 580 000 euros, Mercedes eCitaro – 510 000 euros.
SaryarkaAvtoProm’s electric bus Yutong ZK612BEVG valued at 146 712 333 per bus (about $388 000) met all the requirements when locating the vendor among the domestic manufacturers. The plant manufactures 27-32% of the bus, including the parts such as an electric motor, suspension parts, and interior parts.
Yutong busses are environmentally friendly, maneuverable, and comfortable, as well as meet all the international quality and safety standards.
