Gothenburg launches electric bus route 55

Gothenburg, Sweden, has launched the city’s first route for electric buses on bus route 55 using three completely electrically driven buses and seven electric hybrid buses, all from Volvo Buses. The buses are also equipped with onboard wi-fi and phone charging facilities.
June 16, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

Gothenburg, Sweden, has launched the city’s first route for electric buses on bus route 55 using three completely electrically driven buses and seven electric hybrid buses, all from 609 Volvo Buses. The buses are also equipped with onboard wi-fi and phone charging facilities.

The buses are silent and emission-free and run on batteries that are quickly recharged with wind power and hydropower-generated renewable electricity at the terminal stops.

Bus route 55 is a result of ElectriCity, a collaboration between research, industry and society that develops, tests and demonstrates new, attractive sustainable collective transport for the future. ElectriCity also develops and tests new bus stop systems, traffic management systems, safety concepts and energy supply systems.

“ElectriCity and route 55 are concrete proof of how Gothenburg is being developed into a denser, more sustainable and open city with attractive public spaces and a rich urban life. The project also demonstrates our ambition and strategy to attract expertise and investment that help reduce environmental impact and develop collaboration between authorities, industry and academia,” says Anneli Hulthén, chair of the City Executive in Gothenburg.

“The Volvo Group aims to be the world leader in sustainable transport solutions. A unique collaboration in Gothenburg enables us to launch the electric bus route here and remain a leader in the development of future public transport,” says Niklas Gustafsson, chief sustainability officer, Volvo Group.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • America explores road user charging options
    November 27, 2017
    Jack Opiola casts an eye over the numerous road user charging pilots underway in the US. In the USA, congestion mitigation and improving mobility have often focused on network improvements, increased road capacity, improved public transport, high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes or ‘express lanes’ and ITS measures – all of which require political capital and major funding. Nowadays, political capital is as hard to obtain as funding because more political leaders are recognising the decline of fuel excise tax in
    Read More
  • Electric bus fleet for Sao Paulo, Brazil
    October 9, 2012
    Mayor of the City of Sao Paulo in Brazil, Gilberto Kassab has announced plans for electric buses from Chinese manufacturer BYD to run in the city by the end of the year. There are approximately 15,000 public buses in the city of Sao Paulo today; however fleet buses are responsible for more than 20% of total transportation emissions. BYD says its electric bus is not only zero-emissions but also economical. It is estimated that energy savings of US$246,000 could be saved during the life cycle of a San Paulo
    Read More
  • Shock therapy: jolt for EV charging needed
    October 2, 2018
    As sales of electric vehicles accelerate, the growth of charging infrastructure is in need of a big boost. Graham Anderson reports on whether Europe is up to it. Utilities, technology companies and vehicle manufacturers are battling to put in place new charging networks for electric vehicles (EVs) across Europe in response to a predicted dramatic surge in demand. Market experts believe that rapidly falling battery costs – which make up about one third of the costs of an electric car – and growing
    Read More
  • Open interface for electric bus charging
    March 15, 2016
    While the European public transport community is preparing for electric buses and standardisation activities have already begun, with European standards expected to come into place 2019, followed by international standards in 2020, many cities are already implementing electric bus systems. In order to meet their needs, European bus manufacturers Irizar, Solaris, VDL and Volvo have agreed with charging system suppliers ABB, Heliox and Siemens to an open, transparent and voluntary approach. Common preferre
    Read More

Highlighted Content