Four new Chariot Motors low-floor ultracapacitor electric buses arrived in Sofia today. Local public transport operator Stolichen Elektrotransport shall put them into use along route 73, due to extend to the Mladost Edno residential estate.
Sofia Mayor Mrs Yordanka Fandakova wrote in Facebook, “In 2021, we managed to obtain 30 electric buses secured by funds under the Environment Operational Programme. Savings under the project were sufficient to purchase these four additional electric buses which arrived today in our city of Sofia.”
Chariot 12-metre-long UC e-buses are produced by Higer Bus Company’s world leading facilities and powered by industry-leading innovative Aowei ultracapacitors.
Ultracapacitor e-buses need no overnight charging. The last fast charge from the previous day is sufficient in order to run the e-bus next morning without overnight charging. Frequent charge/discharge cycles do not affect UC longevity. Ultracapacitors have proven robust, environmentally friendly, and safer than batteries on these indicators. They are nonflammable and retain performance in temperatures ranging from -40 to 60°C. They have no harmful or toxic components, presenting no pollution hazard and no hidden end-of-life disposal costs.
A fast five-minute charge allows over 40km of range and hence round-the-clock use. This is the major difference from battery e-buses which have longer range but most often need overnight recharging.
The order for four new low-floor, fast-charging e-buses and three new charging stations is part of a project named Implementing actions to Improve Air Quality in the Metropolitan Municipality through Purchasing Commissioning Electric Road Transport Buses and Trolleybuses, financed by Operational Programme Environment 2014-2020 with the assistance of the European Union Cohesion Fund.
Find more about our UC electric bus projects here.
