A New Ikarus 120e Joins the Volán Fleet in Hajdúszoboszló

The Volán’s electric vehicle procurement project continues, under which the MÁV Group will deploy a total of 20 purely electric Ikarus 120e buses nationwide, with support from the Ministry of Energy (EM) and HUMDA Hungarian Mobility Development Agency Plc. The domestic manufacturer won the delivery rights back in October 2024, and the first vehicle of the series was handed over in Keszthely on March 20. Now, the project continues in Hajdúszoboszló with the fourth vehicle of the series.

The newly delivered electric bus, presented today in a ceremonial setting, is expected to cover 39,000 kilometers annually in local Hajdúszoboszló transport, 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.

We previously detailed the technical specifications of the Ikarus 120e in our article about the Keszthely handover. The specifications of the Hajdúszoboszló vehicle are almost entirely identical to those of the Székesfehérvár units, which have been in service for a year and a half and have covered about 1.6 million kilometers. A minor difference is that the rear electronic display now shows not only the route number but also the destination. The fully low-floor passenger compartment, accessible through three full-width, double-wing swing doors, officially offers 30 seats and 55 standing places. Passenger comfort is enhanced by fixed Ster New City seats and two foldable seats, with dedicated space and a ramp for wheelchair or stroller users. The electronic passenger information system, USB charging points, air conditioning, and onboard camera system further enhance the travel experience. The driver’s work is supported by the Actia Podium 2 dashboard.

The vehicle is powered by a t-DRIVE-MD2021 permanent magnet synchronous electric motor with a constant output of 165 kW and a peak output of 240 kW, located behind the B-axle. Energy is provided by a CATL-manufactured lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack with a total capacity of 314 kWh, capable of covering up to 350 kilometers on a single charge. A high-performance charging station equipped with a CCS Combo 2 interface was installed at the Hajdúszoboszló bus station by Mobiliti Volánbusz Kft.

At the handover ceremony, Kornél Kovács, head of the Vehicle Transport 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 deploy a total of one thousand new buses by 2027, of which 131 will arrive this year,” stressed Kornél Kovács.

Czeglédi Gyula, Mayor of Hajdúszoboszló, stated that this development is a significant milestone for the city: “Residents and visitors of Hajdúszoboszló had the opportunity to try and greatly enjoyed an electric bus during a short trial run a few years ago. I am confident that the new, modern, and comfortable Ikarus 120e vehicle will be warmly welcomed.” He added that the city had previously taken steps towards sustainability, such as deploying an electric waste collection vehicle.

Gábor Kunfalvi, head of the HUMDA Green Mobility Office, highlighted the significance of the Green Bus Program: a modern, battery-powered electric bus replacing a diesel bus reduces carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 38 tons annually. This amount is equivalent to the annual carbon dioxide absorption of 524 average-sized deciduous trees. He further noted: “The Hajdúszoboszló bus is the 141st electric bus deployed in the Green Bus Program. In the current project, we are procuring a total of 20 electric buses and the charging stations to serve them in six cities with populations not exceeding 25,000. We are proud that Hajdú-Bihar County is the second county where the bus fleet includes an electric bus.”

At the handover, János Hunor Kelemen, Ikarus’s commercial director, emphasized the importance of Hungarian engineering knowledge. “We are delighted that Ikarus buses are returning to everyday 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 them, we can compete with our city electric buses across Europe in this rapidly accelerating industry race.”

Attila Nagy, technical director of bus operations at MÁV Passenger Transport Plc., highlighted that modernizing the local fleet helps improve air quality in Hajdúszoboszló and create a more livable city. He also noted that the state company currently provides public scheduled passenger transport services under a public service contract valid from October 1, 2019, to December 31, 2026, on five bus routes. In 2024, 17,500 local services operated 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