Moldova to produce its first electric trolleybuses
The first electric trolleybuses assembled entirely in Moldova could roll off the production line this autumn, following the completion of the first stage of construction for a new factory in the commune of Trușeni, a suburb of the capital.
The announcement was made by the local mayor, Viorica Beregoi, in an interview with Teleradio-Moldova.
The mayor stated that all the necessary project design documents have already been issued, and the next step is to obtain the construction permit, after which the actual work will begin.
“As far as I know, the first phase will involve building the first hall, which will be approximately 5,000 to 7,000 square meters and later expanded. Initially, trolleybuses will be assembled there. As the factory expands, in about a year to a year and a half, we'll move on to producing electronic equipment, which is currently made in Chișinău at the Alfa plant and other locations. Yes, this is a pilot project, funded, as far as I know, by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. So, it’s not just a private investment using our own funds but also loans, because it's a large and expensive project,” said Viorica Beregoi.
The mayor mentioned that the project's economic benefits for the community range from creating new jobs to increasing local budget revenues.
“First and foremost, residents—whether skilled or unskilled—will be able to get jobs right here in the commune. Secondly, when the legal address of the company is in the Trușeni Commune, the commune will benefit from a share of the income tax on employees' salaries. This is, in fact, the most important source of income for the local budget. We were much more open and aware of the beneficial impact this project will have on the locality,” added Viorica Beregoi.
According to the project developers, the Trușeni factory will have a maximum production capacity of 500 trolleybuses annually, depending on demand, for both the domestic market and for export.
The estimated cost for a Moldovan electric trolleybus is about 350,000 euros, and the total investment for the project amounts to approximately five million euros.
The production unit in Trușeni will create over one hundred jobs and, in the medium term, will also produce autonomous hybrid trolleybuses, capable of running exclusively on batteries and recharging quickly from the urban electrical grid—a solution especially intended for small cities like Soroca or Ungheni.
While Chișinău's trolleybuses are imported, they already include components manufactured in Moldova. Last year, the company produced its first electric buses for the city of Bălți, and future plans also include launching a production line for trams, thus contributing to the transition to sustainable urban transport in Eastern Europe.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
