An innovative pilot program in Gothenburg is introducing renewable energy buses in the city, reducing emissions and generating key data for further green public transport expansion.
ElectriCity, a cooperative venture in Gothenburg, brings together 14 partners — including the city, vehicle manufacturers, transit operators, business authorities, and universities — in the development and testing of new solutions for next-generation sustainable public transport. In 2015, it launched a pilot public transport project in which 10 electric buses were unveiled along route 55, an 8-km route. The buses are quiet, exhaust-free, energy efficient, and 100% powered by renewable energy. The route uses a unique indoor bus stop system that increase accessibility to transport thanks to stations that can be placed inside hospitals or supermarkets. Currently, 100,000 passengers per month take the new route and test the new products and services, including Wi-Fi, and touch-screens.
By operating the ElectriCity project, the City of Gothenburg will learn how to use and deploy a full-scale electrified bus system and work towards the city’s goal to lower emissions by 80% by 2035. The partners also share the data in a cloud solution to inspire novel business models. The open data has already been used in innovation challenges and school projects.
100% reduction of CO2 and NOx with the full electric buses
The challenge
ElectriCity is a unique response to the dual challenge of reducing CO2 and NOx emissions from transit and bridging the knowledge-sharing gap between academia and public and private actors. The collaborative project creates a platform on which multiple actors can share results with one another and test innovative transit system elements that will reduce CO2 and NOx emissions and lower city noise levels.
Co-benefits
Economic Improved liveability and reduced noise and air pollution generate public health savings and boost property values.
Environmental The electrified buses produce no NOx emissions.
Health The reduced noise and emissions translates into better health outcomes for the community.
Social User satisfaction along the route is extremely high, with 80% of passengers happy with the free WiFi and 9 of 10 riders appreciative of indoor boarding.
About Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. The Port of Gothenburg is now the largest port in the Nordic countries. The city hosts some of the largest annual events in Scandinavia. The Gothenburg Film Festival, held in January since 1979, is the leading Scandinavian film festival with over 155,000 visitors each year. In summer, a wide variety of music festivals are held.
