Belarusian cities to continue adopting electric vehicles for mass transit purposes

The pilot project meant to provide electric vehicles for the sake of public transportation will continue. Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Piotr Parkhomchik made the relevant statement during a solemn ceremony held on 27 March to hand over 15 passenger electrobuses to Shklov District, BelTA has learned.

Piotr Parkhomchik said: “The realization of the first pilot project within the framework of the Belarusian government’s resolution ends today. Today we have handed over 15 passenger electrobuses to Shklov District and the city of Shklov.” The official thanked everyone who had taken part in the realization of this pilot project. The number includes the managing company of the holding company BKM (previously known as Belkommunmash), which made the new passenger vehicles for Shklov District. The Industry Ministry, the national energy company Belenergo, and the Mogilev Oblast mass transit system operator OAO Mogilevoblavtotrans have also taken part in the project. The government had allocated Br23 million for implementing the project.

Piotr Parkhomchik went on saying: “For our pilot project we’ve chosen two cities – Shklov in Mogilev Oblast and Zhodino in Minsk Oblast. Two passenger vehicle manufacturers participate in the project – Minsk Automobile Plant and Belkommunmash. We’ve separated them. Belkommunmash electrobuses will work in Shklov District and Minsk Automobile Plant electrobuses will work in Zhodino. It is important for us to verify all the technical parameters the designers have implemented. Our republic has adopted a very serious program on electric vehicles, which runs through 2025. It will be developed in 2025-2030.”

The deputy prime minister noted that the pilot project in Shklov District serves not only practical purposes but also advertising purposes. It is possible to talk long about what machines and vehicles are made in Belarus but it would be so much better if delegations from the Russian Federation could evaluate the performance of such passenger vehicles in practice.

“Everything indicates that the project will grow larger. Money has been allocated for manufacturing and for buying vehicles this year. Vitebsk Oblast is next in the pipeline. Most likely the industrial city of Novopolotsk. The pilot project has to happen across the entire country,” the deputy prime minister noted. “Passenger electric vehicles and electric cars are getting more and more popular all over the world now. Belarus keeps up with this economic trend.”

The new passenger electrobuses will be used to service 3 city lines and 19 suburban lines in Shklov District.