A new addition to Volán’s fleet of 20 Ikarus 120e buses enters service in Hajdúszoboszló

The Volán continues its electric vehicle acquisition project, which aims to deploy a total of 20 fully electric Ikarus 120e buses nationwide with the support of the MÁV Group, the Ministry of Energy, and HUMDA Hungarian Mobility Development Agency Ltd. The domestic manufacturer won the delivery contract back in October 2024, with the first vehicle of the series handed over on March 20 in Keszthely. The project has now continued in Hajdúszoboszló with the fourth bus in the series.

The newly delivered electric bus, presented today in a ceremonial handover, is expected to cover 39,000 kilometers annually in Hajdúszoboszló’s local transport network, primarily on Line 1, and as a supplement on Lines 1A, 2, and 3. The vehicle replaces a nearly 24-year-old diesel bus, reducing the city’s carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 37.7 tons annually.

Photo: Ministry of Energy Facebook

Details about the Ikarus 120e’s technical specifications were provided in our earlier article on the Keszthely handover. The specifications of the Hajdúszoboszló bus are nearly identical to those of the Székesfehérvár models, which have been in service for a year and a half and have covered approximately 1.6 million kilometers. A small difference is that the rear electronic display now shows not only the route number but also the destination. The bus features a fully low-floor interior accessible via three full-width double-leaf doors, offering officially 30 seats and standing plac for 55 passengers. Passenger comfort is ensured by fixed Ster New City seats, two folding seats, special space and a ramp for wheelchair or stroller users, as well as an electronic passenger information system, USB charging ports, air conditioning, and an onboard camera system. The driver’s work is aided by the Actia Podium 2 dashboard.

Photo: Ministry of Energy Facebook

The bus is powered by a 165 kW continuous and 240 kW peak output t-DRIVE-MD2021 permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, located behind the B-axle. A CATL lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack with a total capacity of 314 kWh provides the energy, allowing the bus to travel up to 350 kilometers on a single charge. A high-performance charger with a CCS Combo 2 interface, installed by Mobiliti Volánbusz Ltd., is available at the Hajdúszoboszló bus station.

At the inauguration ceremony, Kornél Kovács, head of the Vehicle Traffic and Railway Regulation Department of the Ministry of Construction and Transport, emphasized the MÁV Group’s commitment to greening public transport. “As part of Minister János Lázár’s 10-point commitment, we will introduce a total of 1,000 new buses by 2027, with 131 arriving this year,” highlighted Kornél Kovács.

Gyula Czeglédi, Mayor of Hajdúszoboszló (Photo: Gyula Czeglédi’s Facebook page)

Gyula Czeglédi, Mayor of Hajdúszoboszló, stated that this development is a significant milestone for the city: “Residents and visitors of Hajdúszoboszló had the chance to try an electric bus during a short trial period a few years ago and grew very fond of it. I am confident that the new, modern, and comfortable Ikarus 120e will also be well-received.” He added that the city has previously taken steps towards sustainability, such as deploying an electric waste collection vehicle.

Gábor Kunfalvi, head of the HUMDA Green Mobility Office, highlighted the importance of the Green Bus Program: a modern battery-electric bus replacing a diesel bus reduces carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 38 tons annually, equivalent to the annual CO2 absorption of 524 average-sized deciduous trees. He further noted: “The Hajdúszoboszló bus is the 141st electric bus deployed under the Green Bus Program. In this project, we are acquiring a total of 20 electric buses and their charging stations for six cities with populations under 25,000. We are proud that Hajdú-Bihar County has its second city with an electric bus fleet.”

Photo: Ministry of Energy Facebook

At the handover, János Hunor Kelemen, Ikarus’s commercial director, emphasized the importance of Hungarian engineering skills. “We are delighted that Ikarus buses are returning to daily transport in more and more Hungarian cities. As a manufacturer with over 130 years of history and Hungarian ownership, we continue to rely on the expertise of local engineers, thanks to whom we can remain competitive with our urban electric buses across Europe in this fast-paced industry.”

Attila Nagy, Chief Technical Officer for Buses at MÁV Passenger Transport Ltd., highlighted that modernizing the local fleet helps improve air quality in Hajdúszoboszló and contributes to creating a more livable city. He also noted that the state company currently provides public scheduled passenger transport based on a public service contract valid from October 1, 2019, to December 31, 2026, across five bus routes. In 2024, they operated 17,500 local services in the city. As the project continues, Ikarus vehicles will arrive in Balatonfüred, Tata, and Komló by the end of September.

Opening image: Ministry of Energy Facebook