DPP, the Prague Public Transport Company, has signed a framework agreement to buy 140 articulated hybrid buses from Iveco Group for approximately CZK 1.55 billion. The hybrid buses are 18 meters long and weigh 28,000 kilograms, with a top speed of 99 kilometers per hour. The vehicles have three axles, four double-leaf doors, and are low-floor, and can accommodate 130 passengers, with 35 seats available.

The hybrid buses have an automatic gearbox with an electric motor that serves as an energy generator and helps accelerate or recover energy during braking. The buses are also equipped with rechargeable batteries. This technology enables DPP to maintain independence from charging infrastructure and diversify potential risks.

According to DPP CEO Petr Witowski, the company has been testing and purchasing vehicles with alternative propulsion for a long time. The purchase of these hybrid buses is part of the company’s efforts to improve air quality in Prague by reducing emissions from public transport vehicles. The company plans to gradually replace its current fleet of buses with new and more environmentally friendly cars.

DPP has been working on reducing carbon emissions for several years. In mid-January of this year, it launched the operation of an electric bus that departed from the Želivského stop on line 213. The company is also testing a hydrogen-powered bus.

In early January, construction of a trolleybus route from Palmovka via Prosek and Letňany to Čakovice began. The construction is expected to last about ten months. After the new way is completed, trolleybus line no. 58 will replace bus line 140.

The purchase of these hybrid buses is an excellent initiative towards green public transport. DPP is taking significant steps to protect the environment, and the purchase of hybrid buses is a significant step towards a greener and cleaner future for Prague. It is worth noting that DPP is continuously exploring and investing in alternative propulsion vehicles, which will lead to a substantial reduction in air pollution in the future. The company’s efforts should be commended, and more companies worldwide should follow suit to combat climate change.

Article by Prague Forum