This vehicle should be more successful – the previous bus actually froze up, so several disadvantages were apparent. The SOR Ceglec doesn’t have its own electric heating, so diesel-powered heating has to be used, but the bus (without passengers) easily managed the 150km journey to Prague from the Libchavy factory.

Free rides again

The test-vehicle is operating on line 216 Bořislavka-Poliklinika Petřiny as an additional service, for which no fare is charged. The vehicle is recharged in the classical method, via a cable. “It can be put on slow-charge, which takes 8 hours, or fast-charge, which takes only an hour,” said Business Manager Zdeněk Vitouš.

Fully operational

The SOR-Cegelec, which is now being tested in Prague, has already been in full operational use in Ostrava for several years. The city has four vehicles of an older design. Another version of this bus was in service for four years as a ski-bus in the High Tatras region of Slovakia.

Heated batteries

Certain advantages of the previous model tested in Prague were basically cancelled out by sub-zero temperatures, which quickly drained the power of the batteries. The SOR Cegelec, however, has heated batteries, so they do not drain so quickly.

What does Prague need?

According to DPP Technical Director Jan Šurovský, Prague could make use of more electric buses if longer versions could be considered, similar to the buses currently in use on standard lines. Prague has relatively new midi-buses. An interesting option would be to recharge electric vehicles from the tram network, as was the case with the previous type. However, any actual purchase of electric buses is only likely in the distant future.