Next year, Elektrinio transporto sistemos (ETS), a subsidiary of Vejo projektai, will open an electric bus laboratory in Klaipeda, for the development and improvement of its Dancer electric city buses.
The total amount to be invested in the project is 7.7 million EUR, Verslo žinios business daily reports. The company will put up a share of the money, with the rest coming from EU structural funds, while a loan from Siauliai bankas will cover building costs.
The laboratories, which should exceed 2,000 sq. m. in total area, should be completed sometime in the upcoming year.
According to Alvydas Naujėkas, the General Director of Vejo projektai, the companies, which are involved in making the Dancer buses, will create 80 new jobs for electricians, electrical engineers, software developers, and mechanics. Currently, Vejo projektai employs 53 people.
“The majority of European cities are buying electric buses, the potential in the market is immense. To be competitive, we have to stay ahead and make lighter, more economical and easily serviceable buses. We will have everything we need to do that in Klaipeda Free Economic Zone,” says A. Naujėkas.
The Dancer electric bus, which was designed and manufactured in Klaipeda, has been certified for use in the European Union this year. The first Dancer buses off the manufacturing line have been bought by the city of Klaipeda, they should roll out on the streets soon.
According to A. Naujėkas, the new electric bus laboratory will be used to innovate new ways to reduce the weight and energy consumption of electric buses and improve their handling and performance parameters on the road. Later, the company is planning to build a new factory, which should implement the innovations developed in the upcoming laboratory.