Class E 499.1 electric locomotives were constructed and built by Škoda Works in Plzeň for use in Czechoslovakia by the ČSD.

Currently the whole series is being systematically withdrawn with last units used in Prague, Olomouc and Ústí nad Labem.

To distinguish the new series from its predecessor, the color scheme was changed from two-tone green to orange.

EP05-23 is in planned service as an active exhibit In 1960 and 1961 87 units of similar type 29E were built for the Soviet Union railways.

Several units of this locomotive were kept in service by the Russian Railways pulling mostly passenger trains.

The last operational units were converted to maintenance railcars[3][non-primary source needed] (designated as EM or PEM) and retired by 2012.