First fully electric bus line starts operations in Madrid - and it's free

The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida and the Deputy Mayor for Mobility Borja Carabante inaugurated the city’s first zero-emission bus line operating in the city centre, 001, which will operate between Atocha and Moncloa.

The “zero line”, as it was dubbed, will be zero-emission and will come at zero costs for users. It is part of the city’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy “Madrid 360”, a key tool to comply with European directives on air quality.

The route is expected to cover some 350,000 kilometres per year. EMT, Madrid's public transport company, will rely on ten “ieBUS”, a model produced by Spanish manufacturer Irizar. This model, quiet and environmentally friendly, has a capacity for 75 passengers and a range of between 200 and 250 kilometres depending on the driving cycle and atmospheric conditions. This figure would be equivalent to about 17 hours circulating in the city.

A second zero-emission bus line, 002, is expected to open in March and will operate in the central district from Argüelles to Puerta de Toledo, a connection that did not exist before.

EMT Madrid is stepping up their commitment to reduce carbon emissions. A 35-million-euro investment for the purchase of 50 new electric buses was recently approved, marking the largest call for tender in the history of EMT Madrid with regards to electric buses. The new buses will be delivered in 2020.

For more information, read the press release by EMT (in Spanish).