On 21 December 2022, a sales contract was signed for battery trains and six stable power connections as part of the Application of Green Technologies in Railway Passenger Transport project from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021-2026. As part of the project, a battery electric train (BET) and a battery train (BT) will be procured, as well as six stable power connections for charging batteries, which will be installed at the Split, Osijek, Varaždin, Bjelovar, Virovitica and Pula station. Battery trains and power connections will be produced by KONČAR – Electrična vozila.

The contract was signed by the Chairman of the Management Board of HŽ Putnički prijevoz Željko Ukić and the Chairman of the Management Board of KONČAR – Electična vozila Josip Ninić. The contract signing was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković, as well as the Chairman of the Management Board of KONČAR – Electrična industrija Gordan Kolak.

The procurement of battery trains will enable the organization of railway passenger transport on non-electrified lines in an environmentally friendly manner.

- Today’s project is particularly important and significant because it integrates several things. Firstly, using funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and recognizing the importance of green transition projects as part of this program, which is commendable and has enabled us to use 100 percent of grants. Today's project of construction and procurement of new battery trains represents a turning point in Croatia because we are doing something innovative, something new and it is being done by a successful Croatian company – Minister Butković pointed out.

The application of green technologies in railway transport raises the level of energy efficiency of the transport system and contributes to the reduction of noise and greenhouse gas emissions.

- Procurement of battery trains is a project supported by the European Union under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which focuses on research, development and innovation. The introduction of battery trains in traffic will improve local and regional connectivity and mobility and improve the quality of service. In traffic, it will be possible to functionally connect battery trains with new generation low-floor trains, which will ensure greater capacity and lower operating costs – said Chairman of the Management Board of HŽPP Željko Ukić.

- Our trains certainly belong to the very top of Croatian industry high-tech products, and it should be especially emphasized that a number of Croatian companies are participating in their realization. By developing new products such as hybrid and battery trains, KONČAR is realizing its vision of an innovative partner for advanced solutions on the path of green energy transition and mobility. - said Chairman of the Management Board of KONČAR - Electrična industrija Gordan Kolak.

The battery trains will be low-floor compositions equipped with wheelchair entry and exit ramps, a bicycle area and wheelchair accessible toilets, and the entire passenger area will be under video surveillance. Video displays will be installed in the passenger area. In addition to the visual and audio announcements at the stations and stops, train passengers will be provided with free internet access. The trains will be designed for an average daily mileage of up to 480 km and an average daily operation of up to 18 hours.

The battery electric train (BET) will be used to transport passengers on a non-electrified and electrified railway network in the Republic of Croatia. On the non-electrified railway network, batteries will be used for propulsion, and on the electrified network, the classic pantograph power supply system will be used. Batteries will be able to be charged from the overhead contact line or using stable power connections.

Battery trains (BT) will be used to transport passengers on a non-electrified lines. They will use batteries that are charged exclusively by means of stable power connections.

The total value of the project is HRK 129,000,000 excluding VAT. The grant in the amount of HRK 100,000,000 was provided by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021-2026.

This project continues the modernization of the HŽ Putnički prijevoz fleet, which will ensure more efficient and competitive railway passenger transport, which will also contribute to the sustainability of the transport system in the Republic of Croatia.