Sweden's ElectriCity electric bus success leads to expanded trial

Sweden’s ElectriCity venture is set to expand its electric bus operations in Gothenburg, after two successful years of running vehicles on route 55.

In June 2018, two electric high-capacity buses will begin to operate on route 16, and plans are underway to expand the demo arena with heavy vehicles for quiet and emission-free urban traffic.

Stefan Eglinger, Director of Urban Transport Administration, City of Gothenburg, said: "Gothenburg has a strong automotive industry and is the Nordic region's logistics hub. One benefit is that we get involved early in testing next-generation technology. That's exciting and we learn more together with our partners in ElectriCity than we would do alone. We take these lessons with us in our urban planning as Gothenburg grows into an attractive large city. Tomorrow's quiet vehicles emitting no exhaust gases will make the city even more appealing for people to live in, work in and enjoy. I'm happy and proud that our cooperative venture has been so successful that we now want to go further in the next phase.”

ElectriCity has been developing and testing green traffic solutions with companies, researchers, public authorities, the city, and the region since 2013. The best results have come from bus route 55, where 10 all-electric or partially electrified buses have been operating for two years. The original plan was for the tests to end in 2018, but its success has meant the trial will now continue until 2020 with the addition of new vehicles.

In June 2018, when the Volvo Ocean Race comes to Gothenburg, two electrically powered articulated buses will showcase the latest developments as they operate between Nordstan and Frihamnen. These two prototype buses will then run on route 16, which will be equipped with charging infrastructure and bus stop facilities.

"We know that the people of Västra Götaland want more electric buses, and that passengers who currently use route 55 are very satisfied," said Ulrika Frick, Chair of the Region Västra Götaland Public Transport Board, responsible for the development of public transport in Västra Götaland.

"We want more people to give up their cars, cut emissions and reduce noise levels. Electric buses help us reach these targets and our mission is to create the public transport of the future. That's why we are now looking forward to the next big step, testing larger electric buses on more frequent routes and with more passengers."

From previously focusing primarily on electrified public transport, the demo arena is now growing to encompass other electrically powered heavy vehicles operating quietly and emission-free in city traffic.

"Electrification is on the march within the global transport sector, and the next challenge is to integrate electrification with investments in future smart and sustainable cities. This is why we need to demonstrate electrified articulated buses and other heavy vehicles in the city environment. With this project Sweden can lead these developments and at the same time take a major step forward for a fossil free Swedish transport sector," said The Swedish Energy Agency's Director General, Erik Brandsma.

Within the framework of ElectriCity, work will also commence on testing solutions in automation such as automatic Bus Stop Docking and bus platooning, whereby buses run close behind one other in long trains in urban traffic.

Niklas Gustafsson, Chief Sustainability Officer for Volvo Group, concluded: "Changes to the transport sector are essential if we are to create a sustainable society and next-generation cities. We need to implement sustainable transportation of both people and goods in our cities. That's why it feels particularly gratifying that we are now expanding the ElectriCity demo arena and beginning to examine solutions for automation that can help make electrified vehicles even more efficient.”