Volvo, an electric bus route and the City of Gothenburg

Volvo and the City of Gothenburg, Germany, launched what could arguably be the future of public transport. The city’s first route for electric buses, running on electricity from wind turbines and hydropower sources, was opened on 15 June.

The buses are silent and emission-free, and the bus route is among the most modern in the world. Among other things, passengers can recharge their phones on board and enter and exit the bus from indoors.

Bus route 55 has three electrically driven buses and seven electric hybrid buses

Buses powered completely by renewable energy will now be part of Gothenburg’s public transport system. Bus route 55 has three completely electrically driven buses and seven electric hybrid buses, all of them from Volvo Buses.

The buses on the electric bus route, which runs from Chalmers Johanneberg to Chalmers Lindholmen through the center of Gothenburg, are equipped with on-board Wi-Fi and phone-charging facilities.

The Chalmers Lindholmen stop has an indoor terminal, made possible by the buses that are silent and emission-free.

The buses run on batteries that are quickly recharged with renewable electricity at the terminal stops. The Chalmers Lindholmen stop has an indoor terminal, which is made possible by the fact that the buses are silent and emission-free.

“The Volvo Group aims to be the world leader in sustainable transport solutions. A unique collaboration in Gothenburg enabled us to launch the electric bus route here and remain a leader in the development of future public transport,” says Niklas Gustafsson, Chief Sustainability Officer, Volvo Group.

The new electric bus route not only puts Gothenburg on the map but also opens new possibilities for urban planning.

Bus route 55 is a result of ElectriCity, a collaboration that develops, tests and demonstrates new, attractive sustainable collective transport for the future. In addition to the actual buses, ElectriCity develops and tests new bus stop systems, traffic management systems, safety concepts and energy supply systems.

The new electric bus route not only puts Gothenburg on the map for innovative public transport systems, but also opens new possibilities for urban planning.

The project also demonstrates our ambition and strategy to help reduce environmental impact

“ElectriCity and route 55 are concrete proof of how Gothenburg is being developed into a denser, more sustainable and open city with attractive public spaces and a rich urban life.The project also demonstrates our ambition and strategy to attract expertise and investment that help reduce environmental impact and develop collaboration between authorities, industry and academia,” says Anneli Hulthén, Chairperson of the City Executive in Gothenburg.

It is hoped that the ElectriCity project will encourage use of public transport and prepare the way for more attractive public transport solutions.