Zagreb initiates purchase of 70 electric buses

Public transport utility ZET will spend EUR 50 million for the purchase of three types of electric buses. The first electric bus in Croatia’s capital Zagreb started transporting citizens at the beginning of April.

ZET, in charge of the public transport in Zagreb, has launched the preliminary, consultative phase of the tender to buy the electric buses. It is for 70 vehicles. It currently has more than 460 buses in its fleet.

The firm plans to acquire 33 rigid body electric buses, each equipped with a 380 kWh battery. ZET valued the intended order at EUR 23.6 million, Energetika reported.

A little less should be spent on 29 articulated buses – EUR 23.2 million. The vehicles should come with battery systems of at least 510 kWh apiece.

In addition, ZET is looking to buy eight midi electric buses for an overall EUR 3.2 million. The lowest acceptable battery capacity per vehicle is 100 kWh.

In early April, the first electric bus started transporting passengers in Zagreb

Both ordinary and articulated electric buses should have ranges of at least 300 kilometers on a single battery charge. For the midi buses, ZET determined the minimum at 200 kilometers.

The lowest price at the tender brings the most points. The second most important criterion is battery capacity, followed by the warranty on the vehicles and batteries.

The first phase lasts through April 28. After that, the firm would review objections and proposals and publish a report.

Zagreb’s goal is to switch the entire ZET fleet to electricity and hydrogen

The first electric bus started transporting passengers in Zagreb at the beginning of April. It is the first of four within the first purchase, announced in November last year.

At the time, Mayor Tomislav Tomašević revealed Zagreb’s goal was to switch the entire ZET fleet to electricity and hydrogen.

Early this year, the Government of Croatia said it earmarked EUR 50 million for firms providing public urban and suburban transport services, to install chargers for electric buses.

The Ministry of Economy launched a public call for 18 entities, including ZET.