Clean and quiet: new electric buses in Utrecht public transport
The public transport fleets in the province of Utrecht currently include 76 electric buses and the number of these cleaner, quieter buses is steadily increasing. The ultimate goal in 2028 is zero emissions: a 100 per cent fully sustainable regional public transport fleet of 500 e-buses.
Presentation of new e-buses during the opening of Westraven garage. Photo Rick Huisinga
This spring, public transport company U-OV introduced the Heuliez bus which, with a length of 18 metres, can carry 130 passengers. Combined with a battery range of 120 kilometres, this makes the bus ideally suitable for city transport. The Heuliez harmonica buses not only stand out for their characteristic appearance but also for the remarkable comfort they offer passengers.
Following extensive testing, the Heuliez buses now run on three city lines in Utrecht. The vehicles are a welcome addition to the plug-in charged electric buses supplied by Ebusco. These battery-powered buses are deployed in and around the city of Utrecht and are charged at the garages in Bunnik, Zeist and Amersfoort. Public transport company Syntus Utrecht has also been operating electric buses for several years, in the Amersfoort city service.
See the buses of the future
During an international conference for the collaborative project eBussed, on September 16, the Province of Utrecht reviewed these new buses in a video and explained the steps being taken towards providing fully clean and quiet public transport. Utrecht's participation in eBussed is a co-production by the Province of Utrecht and the Utrecht School of Advanced Education with the aim of sharing international lessons on a successful transition to electric public transport in Europe.
