Belgrade gets public transport line with electric buses

Mayor of Serbia’s capital Siniša Mali and China’s ambassador Li Manchang attended the commissioning of the first five electric buses on September 1.

The vehicles which are deployed to cover a whole line of public transport in the central part of Belgrade were purchased from Israeli-Bulgarian company Chariot Motors. They are the result of cooperation with manufacturer Higer Bus Company Ltd. and ultra-capacitor producer Shanghai Aowei Technology Development Co. Ltd, both from China.

Mali said the local authority plans to refurbish 40 trams next year to install air conditioners and wireless internet. He thanked Li and added he hopes the city will be able to buy more electric buses of the type next year in order to persuade Chariot Motors to establish production in Belgrade.

As quoted by the city portal, the head of the municipal authority stressed its 700 buses in public transport spend three million litres of diesel fuel per month and that an electric bus emits 500 tonnes less gas from the exhaust pipe than a regular bus.

Ambassador Li said he spoke to the representatives of the company based in his country and that he would do everything to bring them to Belgrade to open a production line for the buses. The city’s deputy environment secretary Jasmina Madžgalj stated the five buses would improve air quality and slash carbon dioxide emissions by 500 tonnes per year.