Ikarus 80e’s nearly half-year Slovenian test tour concludes successfully

On May 22, the Ikarus 80e electric midibus concluded its more than five-month Slovenian test tour with a ceremonial event. During this period, the prototype, which debuted at the Busworld Europe 2023 exhibition in Brussels, demonstrated its capabilities in the local public transport systems of six different Slovenian cities. The closing event, to which our portal was invited, was hosted by Ptuj, Slovenia’s oldest city and currently its eighth largest.

The event, held at the main square opposite Ptuj’s town hall and combined with a press conference, was attended by professional audiences and diplomatic representatives from Hungary and Slovenia. Speeches were delivered by Nuška Gajšek, Mayor of Ptuj, Dávid Andor Ferenc, Hungary’s Ambassador to Slovenia, Kelemen János Hunor, Sales Director of the Ikarus Group, and Aleš Šifrer, CEO of Arriva Slovenia, the company that tested the vehicle in Ptuj. After presenting Ikarus’s long-term strategic plans in the region and the vehicle’s technical features, the day concluded with a joint test drive in Ptuj’s city center, marking the farewell tour of the test bus in Slovenia.

During passenger traffic tests conducted from December 2024 to May 2025, the Ikarus 80e V3 prototype, as referred to by the factory, was tested in six Slovenian cities—Ljubljana, Kranj, Nova Gorica, Koper, Maribor, and Ptuj—operated by various local public transport companies (LPP, Arriva, Nomago). The primary aim of the test tour was to assess the vehicle’s performance and reliability under real operational conditions and to build relationships with local transport providers and industry players, whose feedback and requirements will be considered for future product adjustments. Ikarus sees significant market potential for the 80e midibus in the South Slavic countries, having also showcased the model in Belgrade last year.

According to Ikarus, during the winter-spring test period, the bus traveled a total of 4,653 kilometers in Slovenia, achieving a noteworthy average energy consumption of 0.0028 SoC/km (which equates to just under 0.79 kWh/km, given the type’s 282 kWh battery capacity). The practical trials demonstrated that the vehicle can meet, and even exceed, the manufacturer’s promised 350-kilometer range under real-world conditions, making it suitable for urban and regional tasks and placing it among the leaders in its category internationally. Following the press event, the bus traveled the approximately 345-kilometer road distance from Ptuj to Székesfehérvár without intermediate charging, arriving at the Ikarus facility with 40% battery capacity remaining. We can attest to this, as we accompanied the vehicle on its journey back to Székesfehérvár.

“At Arriva Slovenia, we believe that the future of mobility is not shaped by chance—we must shape it with courage, expertise, and a firm commitment to sustainable solutions. The Ikarus 80e electric bus test period in Ptuj allowed us to try out new technology in everyday operations and gain valuable experience that contributes to achieving high safety and quality standards. We are proud of the successful test period, which demonstrates that by collaborating with the local community and our partners, we are already capable of providing modern, user-friendly, and socially responsible public transport,” said Aleš Šifrer, CEO of Arriva Slovenia, about the Ikarus 80e testing period in Ptuj.

“The Ikarus 80e has showcased its capabilities in real traffic—the achieved range and energy efficiency are outstanding on an international level. This reinforces our belief that we are on the right track in developing sustainable urban mobility solutions,” commented Kelemen János Hunor, Sales Director of the Ikarus Group, on the results of the Slovenian test tour.