35 electric buses to soon start carrying passengers in Riga

35 electric buses have been added to the bus fleet of Rīgas satiksme, the city’s public transport carrier. The buses are currently undergoing technical inspections, test runs and other preparatory work so that they can soon start transporting passengers.

The move signifies a major step forward in the development of Rīgas satiksme, as the main benefit of electric buses is the reduction of CO2 emissions in the city, thus improving public transport services.

While the buses can already be seen in the streets of Riga, the test runs are being carried out without passengers. During the runs, experts check the technical readiness of the buses, including the functionality of the equipment, such as the information system.

It is important for the other technologies overseen by the company, such as bus stop screens, communication with dispatchers and driver control boards, to also work in sync with the new electric buses.

For the drivers, it is important to take test drives to adapt to the new vehicle and to experience the charging processes. The winter season is the perfect time for this, as road conditions and the heating of the interior have a direct impact on battery charging.

Rīgas satiksme purchased the buses as part of the “Purchase of electric buses for the city of Riga” project co-financed by the Cohesion Fund of the European Union. The total cost of the project is estimated at EUR 19.18 million, which includes the EUR 16.06 million in co-financing from the Cohesion Fund.

Source: Press release (www.rigassatiksme.lv)
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