10 Dancer buses with lease mobility solution to be deployed in Klaipeda, Lithuania

In Lithuania, public transport operator UAB “Klaipėdos autobusų parkas” (KAP) completed the public procurement procedure and signed a contract with UAB “Vėjo projektai” for the lease of 10 Dancer electric buses under the Dancer Mobility solution model, that includes not only the lease of the electric buses, but also charging infrastructure, full service and maintenance, as well as green electricity supply.

Next summer in Klaipėda, Lithuania, ten vehicles powered by green electricity produced from renewable energy sources should already be transporting the city’s passengers.

Dancer launches public transport lease service

This type of public transport lease service is new among Lithuanian carriers, but it is also known and making its way around the world. Close to 10 suppliers registered in the public procurement tender announced by KAP, and the Klaipėda-based company “Vėjo projektai” won, the company itself points out in a press note.

Two electric buses Dancer have been plying the streets of the port city for more than two years. Electric buses with ultra-fast charging travel almost 300 kilometres every day and carry more than 100,000 passengers a year.

Dancer Bus in Klaipeda: a ten year service

“Basically, we don’t buy buses, but we have purchased a complex service for ten years – delivery of buses, their technical service, construction of charging stations, electricity supply. We will be only responsible for the drivers and passenger transportation service. All other matters will have to be taken care of by the provider of the operational rental service”, said Vaidas Ramanauskas, general director of UAB “Klaipėdos autobusų parkas”.

Alvydas Naujėkas, CEO of UAB “Vėjo projektai”, comments: “We are happy to cooperate with UAB “Klaipėdos autobusų parkas” – a carrier that is a leader in Europe in terms of bus route schedule compliance and that demonstrates sustainable business principles by looking for innovative ways to replace polluting buses with new ones at the lowest financial costs. A complex Dancer Mobility solution provided by us and fixed payment for kilometres driven will allow KAP not only to avoid initial investments in the purchase of buses, but also to save funds for service and maintenance, as well as charging infrastructure,” says A. Naujėkas.

“It is good news that the Klaipėda-based company is competitive and won the electric bus service tender. In the face of the global crisis, every job is important, and with this project in Klaipėda, they will undoubtedly increase. And it is doubly gratifying that, on the initiative of city politicians and a municipality-owned public transport operator, the paths for zero-emission transport in the city are opening up more and more, and what seemed to be only a dream five years ago is coming true: in Klaipėda we will travel by comfortable public transport, we will breathe cleaner air”, said Vytautas Grubliauskas, the Mayor of Klaipėda.