Hybrid trolleybuses in the Czech Republic

Today’s 14 Czech trolleybus operators all have siginificantly modernized fleet and infrastructure, the number of older high-floor trolleybuses of the remaining types 14Tr / 14TrM and 15Tr / 15TrM is constantly being reduced and even some of the first generation low-floor trolleybuses have already been taken out of service.

Several operators purchased trolleybuses with extensive off-wire capabilities for use on route sections without overhead over the past few years. The first vehicles of this type were equipped with an additional diesel motor. More recently, however, various new trolleybuses have been equipped with a powerful battery package which allows for some 10-20 km off-wire operation. The batteries are recharged when the vehicle uses the overhead again. The vehicles have also been referred to as “hybrid trolleybus”.

Practical examples

Hybrid trolleybuses operations can be found in the following cities:

Prag: Test operation on route 58 (battery), see our news of 20 August 2019: https://hosting129892.a2e10.netcup.net/en/more-in-motion-charging-in-prague/ Electrification of part of routes 140 and 119 (to the airport) under preparation, articulated and double-articulated hybrid trolleybuses are foreseen here.

Ostrava: Route 101 (battery)

Zlín-Otrokovice: Routes 3, 4, 5, 11, 12 (Diesel + battery)

Hradec Králové: Routes 21 and 27 (battery), Routes 1 and 7 (Diesel + battery)

Mariánské Lázně: Route 7 (Diesel)

Opava: Route 221 (battery), see: https://hosting129892.a2e10.netcup.net/en/a-new-trolleybus-in-the-market/

Plzeň: Routes 12, 13 (Diesel + battery)

Teplice: Routes 104 und 106 (battery)

Brno: 2018 to June 2019 partial battery-operation on route 32, today again full-electric

In some other cities there are hybrid trolleybuses in the fleet (e.g. České Budějovice), but they do not operate scheduled services yet.

The fleet

The following bi-mode trolleybuses can be found in the fleet (only those in regular hybrid mode operation):

HB = Hybrid Batterie-Trolleybus

HD = Trolleybus with additional diesel engine („Duobus“)

Prague:

HB = 9506 = Škoda 30 Tr PROTOTYP (2018)

Tender process for (15) articulated and (20) bi-articulated battery trolleybuses.

Ostrava:

HB = 3731-3740 = Škoda 26 Tr (2017); 3805-3812 = Škoda 27 Tr (2015/17); 9986 = EKOVA ELECTRIC 12T Prototyp (2018, currently on loan to Prague)

Tender process for additional twelve 12m-battery trolleybuses under way

Hradec Králové:

HD = 17/18 = Škoda 30 TrDG (2012) HB = 29-37 = Škoda 30 Tr (2018)

Pardubice:

HB = 480-483 = Škoda 30 Tr (2018)

Opava:

HB = 314-323 = Škoda 32Tr (2018) HD= 91-95, 97 = Solaris Trollino 12 AC (2006); 305/306 = Škoda 26 Tr (2010)

Mariánské Lázně:

HD = 53, 55, 56 = Škoda 24 Tr (2006)

Plzeň:

HD = 497-519 = Škoda 24 Tr (2004-2009); 520-524 = Škoda 25 Tr (2009); 551/552 = Škoda 26 Tr (2014); 527-530 = Škoda 27 Tr (2010) HB = 565-582 = Škoda 26 Tr (2017-2018); 583-589 = Škoda 27 Tr (2018), 583 March 2019 on lease in Prague

Teplice:

HB = 501-505 = Škoda 30 Tr (2018) Tender for 5 articulated vehicles

Zlín-Otrokovice:

HD = 201-220 = Škoda 24 Tr (2004-2014); 402-413 = Škoda 25 Tr (2006-2014) HB = 271/272 = Škoda 26 Tr (2016); 221-227 = Škoda 30 Tr (2019)

More are yet to come, new orders are expected soon: Brno has started a tender for 30 (+30 option) new hybrid trolleybuses, and Jihava has ordered 7 Škoda Electric/SOR 32 Tr.

Updated: 15.10.2019 First release: 4.10.2919