TMB will buy 210 hybrid and electric buses to modernize the fleet

Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) will invest more than 400 million euros in the next six years to modernize and make its bus fleet more sustainable. According to TMB's current roadmap, all diesel vehicles will be written off and only clean and preferably electric traction buses will be incorporated.

Framed within this plan, the company has started this week the tender to acquire 210 electric and hybrid buses for an amount of 116 million euros. The new vehicles will serve to replace others with more polluting technologies and an age of 15 years.

"We want Barcelona's bus network to be innovative, efficient, safe and, above all, clean and sustainable, in line with the European Union's objectives to decarbonize transport and combat the climate emergency," explains TMB president, Rosa Alarcón. TMB's strategic commitment not only includes the purchase of clean buses but also of their auxiliary vehicles and necessary infrastructures and the promotion of hydrogen and biogas.

The ongoing tender for 210 electric and hybrid buses is divided into five lots, two of which correspond to 100% electric and zero-emission vehicles, totaling 78 units. Of these, 29 will be articulated fast-charging buses and will be destined for the electrification of lines H16, H12, and V15, all three with high demand. The rest will contribute to the goal of making half of TMB's bus fleet electric by 2030.

In addition to electric buses, the largest group of vehicles included in this tender will be standard compressed natural gas hybrids, with a total of 85. To these will be added 23 articulated buses that will also be standard compressed natural gas. Finally, TMB has requested offers to manufacture 24 double-decker diesel-electric hybrid propulsion buses for the tourist bus, which will be dedicated to replacing diesel units. All units will have to be delivered in a staggered manner depending on the fleet renewal needs until 2025.

With this tender, TMB covers approximately half of the vehicle acquisitions planned for the next four years, estimated at 410 units. Of these, 62% will be zero-emission, with electric battery buses, pantograph charging, or hydrogen fuel cell.