Zaporizhzhia will receive eight trolleybuses with autonomous drive by the end of 2026

By the end of 2026, Zaporizhzhia is set to receive eight new trolleybuses that can operate without overhead wires. The low-floor vehicles will be equipped with ramps and information systems to make them more accessible to various passengers. This was reported by Zaporizhzhia Visti. Earlier, the city also announced plans to purchase ten trolleybuses.

How the autonomous drive of trolleybuses will help Zaporizhzhia

The new vehicles will have batteries that allow them to travel without power from overhead wires. This will be useful on streets without a network and during detours around sections where trolleybus movement is temporarily restricted.

For Zaporizhzhia, where infrastructure damage can affect transport operation, autonomous driving will enable more flexible route planning. It will also help avoid complete stops of trolleybuses if certain sections of the overhead network are unavailable. The city is already using vehicles of this type: trolleybus No. 14 returned to the route after the restoration of trolleybus No. 2.

How new trolleybuses are equipped for passengers

All eight vehicles will be low-floor. This design facilitates boarding and alighting for passengers, including people with disabilities, wheelchair users, and parents with strollers.

The interiors will include ramps and modern information systems. They are intended to make trips more accessible and help passengers receive necessary information during transit.

How Zaporizhzhia is updating its electric transport fleet

The supply of eight vehicles is part of a broader program to renew the city’s electric transport. Earlier, the city signed a contract for ten low-floor trolleybuses capable of traveling up to 20 kilometers without overhead wires. The project is supported by the European Investment Bank and the European Commission; according to reports, it will not require funds from the city budget.

In 2026, Zaporizhzhia had already received Van Hool trolleybuses with autonomous drive. The fleet also grew by five vehicles with an autonomous range of up to 25 kilometers, which were planned to be used for transportation on the route to Khortytsia. Further updates to the electric transport are expected to expand the city’s options during route planning and support passenger transport when the overhead network is limited. Other transport changes in the city were discussed in an article by Inkorr about the operation of Zaporizhzhia’s electric transport.