PORTUGAL
Transdev has invested €4.5 million to reinforce its AveiroBus fleet of electric buses in the town of Aveiro with an additional 10 vehicles, which entered service from 23 November, allowing the operator to reduce its carbon footprint to around 383 tons/year.
The investment includes new charging infrastructure consisting of five double chargers; thermal cameras were also installed to detect possible initial fires, and barriers were created to prevent the spread of flames in an emergency.
The buses will have sufficient battery capacity to allow them to operate for a full day and be recharged during off-peak hours, minimising costs and the load on the electrical grid. The buses also come equipped with a blind spot detection system, which promises to significantly reduce the risk of accidents on urban roads. The delivery is a strategic moment for the Municipality of Aveiro and its public transport network, which in 2018 received the first three electric buses and now has a fleet of 14 vehicles with zero CO2 emissions. CMA has made several investments in terms of sustainable mobility, namely with the new 100% Portuguese electric ferryboat, which will connect São Jacinto, in Aveiro, and Fort da Barra, in Ílhavo, and which is currently undergoing testing.
José Ribau Esteves, Mayor of AveiroCEO of Transdev Portugal Sérgio Soares said that the buses represent a strong commitment to improving the service that the company provides in Aveiro, both in terms of quality and comfort for passengers, as well as energy and climate savings. He added that in terms of combating climate
change, in addition to the decarbonisation of operations, there is another priority that needs to be reinforced, chiefly improving the supply of public transport. “Only with more supply will we be able to get people to switch from individual transport to public transport and this is a challenge that we all, as a society, have to understand and promote,” he said.