Volánbusz Completes Green Bus Project

The environmentally friendly, electric-powered fleet of Volánbusz has been expanded significantly in the last year and a half, with the company putting 100 new electric buses into service in the framework of the HUMDA Plc. Green Bus Program, the nationwide bus company Volánbusz said in a joint statement with the program's participants on Tuesday, MTI reported.

The development of the bus fleet was implemented with the support of the Green Bus Program of the Hungarian Mobility Management Agency (HUMDA) in cooperation with Volánbusz, the MVM Group and Mobiliti Volánbusz Ltd. The HUF 17.8 billion development renewed a significant part of the local vehicle fleet in the metropolitan agglomeration and six county seats, thus reducing the air pollution of the affected areas.

HUMDA considers it of the utmost importance that Hungary becomes a net climate neutral country by 2050, in line with the government's targets, and the Green Bus Program coordinated by HUMDA makes a significant contribution to this.

They explained that Volánbusz, which operates nationwide, has set a target to replace about half of its nearly 6,000-bus-strong fleet with electric vehicles by 2030 in order to create sustainable public transport. In order to achieve these improvements, the transport company is seeking partnerships that will help it to realize its medium- and long-term vision.

It was recalled that Volánbusz and its consortium partner Mobiliti Volánbusz had submitted several successful tenders under the Green Bus Program for the purchase of 100 electric buses and related charging equipment. The transport company signed an agreement for the delivery of the first 40 vehicles on July 27, 2021, and for the purchase of 60 additional e-buses on April 1, 2022.

The vehicles will improve the quality of passenger transport services in the metropolitan agglomeration and in the local transport areas of Székesfehérvár, Zalaegerszeg, Győr, Eger, Szolnok and Szeged, contributing to the creation of sustainable public transport. The improvements were implemented with an average non-reimbursable subsidy of 76% from the Green Bus Program.

In the agglomeration of the capital – in the Budakeszi, Budaörs and Törökbálint areas – 40 electrically powered Mercedes-Benz eCitaro buses will be introduced from spring 2022, worth around HUF 7.6 billion. Around 90% of the solo vehicles in the agglomeration fleet are alternative-powered, with an average age of 1.7 years. The e-buses in the agglomeration have covered around 2.5 million kilometers since the start of operation.

“The local bus fleets of the six county towns where electric buses are also greening the fleet have also been significantly rejuvenated and modernized," Volánbusz said in a joint statement.