The Chollima-321 (Korean: 천리마 -321) is a North Korean trolleybus with battery power built by the Pyongyang Trolley Bus Factory.^[1] The name 'Chollima' refers to a myth about a winged horse that has since been adopted as the name of North Korea's Stakhanovite movement.^[2] The production of the Chollima-321 production replaced the Chollima-091 articulated trolleybus, due to the need to replace older Chollima-961, -951, Ikarus and Karosa bus based trolleybuses.^[3] The trolleybus features on a 50 won stamp.^[4]

In Japanese sources, it is called the Mallima-312.^[5]

Design

The new trolleybus was first tested at night, with Kim Jong-un on board, which had become a tradition for the testing of new modes of public transport. Before that, Kim Jong-un had visited the trolleybus factory, confirming the specifications of the trolleybus, such as the door width.^[3] The vehicle that he had ridden on would be numbered 483, in honour of the route he had taken, and the date on which he had tested it, August 3.^[6] The production vehicles differ that there is an additional blinker above the headlights, different lights on the rear and a ladder to the roof at the rear. The first seat is reserved for 'heroes'.^[5]

The trolleybus has a digital dashboard that monitors the overhead wire voltage, speed and battery voltage.^[5] It features a TV manufactured by Potonggang Electronics Factory. Like the Chollima-316, it has LED indicators for the route on front and rear, but the Chollima-321 also has one inside. The vehicle has no air conditioner.^[5] A new type of motor, which is more efficient than previous models was introduced on this trolleybus.^[7]

This model demonstrated that the trolleybus factory had mastered the use of plastic moulding,^[3] which was reported as achieved through CNC machines and plasma cutters.^[1] It is claimed that almost all parts are built at the factory, which after its refurbishment completed in early 2018,^[8] featured a full assembly line for trolleybuses, from framing to painting of the vehicle,^[1] with the plating of trolleybuses being automated.^[9] A new production process of curved glass was reportedly created for the use in electric public transport.^[10] Other production processes that were upgraded for its production included induction furnaces and heating furnaces, used for forging of parts.^[7]

Up until January 2020, it was reported 'more than 100' trolleybuses have been manufactured in recent years,^[11] and that despite shortages in 2019, the production was pushed ahead.^[12]

The design of the Chollima-321 has been displayed at the national industrial design exhibition in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea.^[13] Its design has inspired other factories, such as the Chongjin Bus Factory, which serially produced 20 new trolleybuses in a design clearly inspired by the Chollima-321.^[14] Other similar models have been built in Hamhung and Pyongsong.^[15] The design and colour scheme of the trolleybus is similar to the 'Thongil' tram that was manufactured at the same time.^[5]

Service

There are currently 42 known Chollima-321 trolleybuses known to be in operation.^[16] Other vehicles, such as the trolleybuses in Chongjin are a completely different model, named 'Jipsan'.^[17]