Here’s the timetable for the arrival of Volánbusz’s brand new electric Ikarus buses

Volánbusz has finalized an agreement with Electrobus Europe Zrt., the distributor of electric buses under the Ikarus brand, at the end of October for the procurement of 20 electric buses. Although there is a new-generation version of the Ikarus 120e, which was showcased at the InnoTrans 2024 exhibition in Berlin, the buses destined for Volánbusz, now part of MÁV Személyszállítási Zrt., will be the older model, considered less advanced compared to its market competitors, and also used in Székesfehérvár.

The procurement of the buses manufactured in Székesfehérvár is made possible by a 100% non-refundable grant from HUMDA Zrt.. The contract’s total value is 2,871,873,800 forints, of which the purchase price of the buses amounts to nearly 2.8 billion forints, with the remaining sum covering additional services. When evaluating the tender, the transport company selected the winning bid based on compliance with the tender requirements, purchase price, and delivery schedule, without scoring the submissions on other quality aspects such as range, energy consumption, passenger capacity, technical readiness, safety systems, or warranty periods.

The buses, which retain the main mechanical characteristics of the 2018 Ikarus-CRRC CityPioneer prototype, are being acquired at a favorable price of 139.9 million forints each. They will be equipped with a 165 kW continuous and 240 kW peak power central t-DRIVE-MD2021 permanent magnet synchronous electric motor from the Chinese CRRC, and a CATL-manufactured 314 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack without active thermal management, mirroring the technical specifications of the previously delivered Székesfehérvár units. According to the manufacturer, the model can achieve a range of up to 300 kilometers, which, based on operational experience in Székesfehérvár, is largely attainable despite having only 251 kWh of usable energy and an average consumption of below 0.9 kWh/km. Winter operation will not be an issue for these buses as they are fitted with diesel auxiliary heaters, ensuring cabin heating does not deplete the stored energy.

According to the official delivery schedule, the first two units are to be handed over in January, with continuous deliveries in the following months. The final delivery deadline is the end of October 2025. Electrobus Europe has provided a 36-month general warranty and a 72-month warranty on the battery packs without mileage limits or other restrictions. The buses will be distributed among six Hungarian cities, with 7 units in Komló, 6 in Tata, 3 in Balatonfüred, 2 in Komárom, and 1 each in Hajdúszoboszló and Keszthely.

Cover photo: Ikarus