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First UK-assembled Belarusian electric bus to go into service in Nottingham

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MINSK, 5 March (BelTA) – The first Belarusian electric bus, which has been assembled in the UK, will drive along the roads of Nottingham, BelTA learned from Richard Wellings, a public transport officer at the Nottingham City Council, on 5 March.

The official said: “Electric buses have been driving along our roads for ten years already, this is why when representatives of Minsk – our twin city – approached us, we were enthusiastic about Belkommunmash’s proposal to let their electric bus drive along Nottingham roads. Besides, this electric bus uses a technology Nottingham has not seen before – liftable current collectors. We would like to see whether it is economically effective.” An electric bus with a charging device has already been delivered to the city but has yet to start trials. The charging device is getting certified now, the official added.

“If the project is as successful as we assume it to be, we will start negotiations with major UK bus operators on selling them this electric bus,” Richard Wellings said.

In turn, Thomas Ashton, Director for Marketing and Sales at CAD CAM Automotive/Wave Industries, noted that UK laws change very dynamically. “In November 2019 the government banned the production of transport with internal-combustion engines starting 2035. In February 2020 the deadline was shifted to 2032. Our market lacks a sufficient number of electric bus manufacturers now and lacks ready solutions for making these vehicles. Our joint venture with Belkommunmash does not have many competitors, who are ready to offer such a technology on the British market,” he said.

The British partners also intend to cooperate with Belarusian scientists. “We are primarily talking about their participation in the development of new products we are going to produce in association with Belkommunmash,” Thomas Ashton added.

Deputy Chief Designer at the Belarusian company OAO BKM Holding Sergei Chistov said that the electric bus designed in association with the British partners will be showcased at a major trade fair in Birmingham.

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