Athens and Thessaloniki will have the most electric buses in Europe – When are they coming?
Electrification is gradually entering urban public transport as well, with Athens and Thessaloniki not having received modern, anti-pollution bus technology.
“Year of 2023Athens and Thessaloniki will be the only cities in Europe to have so many electric and CNG buses, since the tender procedures for their procurement are progressing normally”. This is what he mentioned among other things
regarding the renewal of the city bus fleet in the two largest cities of Greece, o Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Kostas Karamanlisduring his speech to the Production and Trade Committee of the Parliament.
As the minister has repeated, it will be gradual 1,300 new, environmentally friendly buses1,000 of which move on the streets of the capital.
The first electric buses are just around the corner
It is reminded that the competition for the 650 new anti-pollution bus technology in Athens and Thessalonikiwith the first deliveries not scheduled for the first half of 2023, as the minister has stated.
The tender, which was announced at the end of 2021, initially concerned 750 – 770 buses, divided into 5 subcategories (including hybrid, CNG and electric), with an estimated budget 383.5 million euros.
Nevertheless, for the first part of the competitionthe 100 simple 12 m hybrid city buses, EURO VI category and initial budget of 31 million euros, no offer was submitted, so he was declared barren.
Therefore, the competition proceeds for the remaining 4 divisions, which are:
-For the provision 200 ordinary 12 meter city vehiclesEURO VI category compressed natural gas (CNG) and an initial budget of 59 million euros
-For the provision 100 18m modular city vehicles, of compressed natural gas (CNG) category EURO VI and an initial budget of 43 million euros.
-For the provision 100 simple 12m electric city vehicles with a minimum range of 135 km and an initial budget of 45 million euros.
-For the provision 250 simple 12m electric city vehicles with a minimum range of 180 km and an initial budget of 123.75 million euros.
The objective of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is to announcement of a new tender for an additional 300 buses.
It is reminded that in October OSY will carry out test routes of one hydrogen bus – Read more here. ,