What are electric buses

First of all, electric buses are essentially the same thing as regular buses, but with one major difference, which is that they run on battery or hydrogen, rather than fossil fuels.

Traditional buses are usually powered by diesel, which is very harmful and contributes to the release of greenhouse gas emissions.

In fact, traditional buses can release as much as 1.3 kilograms of CO2 per kilometer, while battery or hydrogen powered buses don't release any emissions at all.

Switching to electric buses can help countries dramatically reduce their environmental footprint, especially since in 2019, 26% of the total emissions released by the European Union were coming from transport.

Why do cities need electric buses

The most obvious answer is that cities nowadays can prove to be a challenging place to live in during hot summer days, when temperatures and humidity tends to increase and it is more accentuated by the pollution in urban settlements.

While not all heat is coming from buses, as cars and concrete buildings play their part, as well, improving in every area helps, even if just a bit.

Every big city in the world has public transport systems, as they are necessary for people who commute to and from work and school, among other activities.

Buses are an important part, because they can reach pretty much every corner, unlike tramways and subway systems.

A zero-emissions transport system is an essential part of a green city and authorities in places such as Europe are constantly looking to improve the life of urban dwellers with green spaces and low-emissions services.

Oslo is one European city that hopes to be the first in the world to have a fully electric public transport system by the end of 2023 and implementing electric buses is part of the officials' strategy.

Manufacturers of electric buses

There are more and more companies around the world looking to take their fleets electric, some of which are Solaris and Volvo.

Volvo's 7900 electric bus comes in both articulated and standard chassis, depending on the needs of the transport service operator.

The bus has a flexible charging system, as it can power either via regular charging stations, like electric cars, or through a pantograph, similar to a tramway of a train.

Solaris has its own range of zero-emissions electric buses, two of these being the Urbino 12 and the Urbino 18.75, which are again, standard and articulated buses for different needs.

These electric buses got a battery capacity increase last year and they were also upgraded with improved sensors that offer better visibility all around them.

Electric buses advantages

One of the big advantages of electric buses is the fact that they don't release emissions while on the go and depending on where they source their energy from, they can be net-zero from one end to another.

This translates into better air quality, also an important advantage for buses that transit cities on a daily basis, but also for those that operate on a regional line.

As stated before, an electric bus makes virtually no noise, which means more comfort for the passengers, but also for the passers-by and people who live in bus-frequented areas.

An electric bus also has lower maintenance cost, just like an electric car, due to the fact that there are fewer moving parts that require constant maintenance and testing. There is no need for things like an oil filter for the electric motor of a battery-powered bus, for example.

Some manufacturers claim that an e-bus can save an operator as much as 125.000 USD worth-of maintenance cost over the course of its lifespan.

Then there are running costs, which are also significantly lower. Depending on the city/region that an electric bus operates in, electricity can be cheaper than gas, which means that the fuel will cost less over the course of the bus' operational lifespan.

Bus maker Proterra claims that a bus can save up to 50.000 USD over five years of operation in terms of fuel and maintenance.

The drawbacks of electric buses

The first and major drawback when it comes to electric buses is their upfront cost, which is higher compared to their fossil-powered counterparts.

Some experts say that electric buses can cost as much as 30.000 USD extra compared to diesel ones and when we're talking about a fleet of 20 buses, let's say, this can add up to 600.000 USD.

While some battery-powered buses can offer around 300 kilometers of range, their overall range is limited, especially if they need to travel at higher speeds outside the city.

Furthermore, charging an electric bus can take longer, due to the fact that its batteries are much larger than those found on electric cars.

Fuel cell-powered buses can be a better solution in this case, because they can travel more before needing a refill and that doesn't take as much as charging a set of batteries in the first place.

Still, wireless charging can be a solution for battery-powered buses, since these systems can be installed at stoplights and at bus stops, allowing for a quick recharge.

Overall, battery and hydrogen-powered buses are a necessity in today's cities, as they can help urban settlements get closer to the net-zero goals.

Their zero emissions and virtually zero noise levels can also improve the health and overall well-being of city dwellers, another strong suit of future green cities.