From 12 to 25 July 2024, MPK SA is testing a King Long PEV6 electric minibus in Krakow. This is the first test of such a zero-emission minibus in Krakow, planned in the Podgórki Tynieckie, Grębałów, Zesławice and Rybitwy districts. The minibus will operate where the smallest vehicles in the MPK fleet are currently in service, on lines 116 (Czerwone Maki P+R – Podgórki Tynieckie), 176 (Kostrze OSP – Bodzów), 180 (Os.Na Stoku – Grębałów), 198 (Mistrzejowice – Zakole) and in the area served by the so-called “Telebus”.
Even before the start of the tests, on 11 July, the PEV6 bus was presented together with another, slightly larger bus, PEV9 King Longa, in the square at Barbakane and drove through the city centre. It was from this very square that the electric buses set out more than 10 years ago to transport the citizens of Krakow on Poland’s first line operated exclusively by zero-emission vehicles. Since then, 121 electric buses have been added to MPK’s fleet, with different lengths of around 9 metres, 12 metres and an articulated bus of 18 metres.
The King Long PEV6 is 6 metres long, 2.06 metres wide and 2.82 metres high. It weight is just under 5 tonnes. According to the manufacturer, the cobalt-free battery with a capacity of 89 kWh is made of lithium iron phosphate, a service life of at least 8 years is guaranteed, as is a charging time of less than one hour for 120 kW (with a charger with the corresponding power). The e-bus also has electronic mirrors and a 360-degree camera system. The minibus can carry 22 passengers at a time, 12 of whom are seated.
