Gothenburg places major order for new electric buses

Gothenburg, one of Sweden’s largest cities, has purchased 30 all-electric buses to help reduce carbon emissions and noise pollution.

The order was placed with Volvo, which stated the order is Sweden’s largest to-date of emissions-free buses.

The electric buses add to 60 hybrid vehicles already in operation throughout Gothenburg and will service some of the most polluted parts of its city centre. It’s expected they will start running from next autumn on route 60, a thoroughfare which saw 6.2 million journeys in 2017.

The Västra Götaland region, which includes the city and contains 1.6 million inhabitants, has stiff sustainability targets; carbon dioxide emissions on the transport network need to be reduced by 80 percent by 2020. A further 95 percent of all transport has to come from renewable sources by 2025.

Transport operator GS Buss made the order and will be responsible for charging the 200 kilowatt hour batteries at the end of each route. The 30 strong fleet is reportedly the biggest Volvo has received and builds on the 4,000 electrified buses the manufacturer has sold around the world.

Volvo was founded in the city and still maintains its headquarters there. Håkan Agnevall, President of Volvo Buses, commented: “It’s great to put more electric buses on the road in Volvo’s home city. We know that the electric buses on route 55 are highly appreciated by passengers, drivers and local residents alike.

“Now many more people in Gothenburg will be able to travel without causing noise and emissions on one of Gothenburg’s most heavily trafficked bus routes. In addition to giving passengers and drivers a pleasant ride the electric buses will contribute to a quiet, emission-free environment for everyone living along the route."

“Electric buses create entirely new possibilities for urban planning since we can bring public transport closer to people, even indoors,” he added. 

 

Photo Credit: Volvo