ARCHIVED - Cartagena presents its first fully electric bus
The eco-friendly public transport vehicle begins a week-long trial in Cartagena with free travel for passengers
Another small step has been taken this week in Cartagena on the road to ecological transition in the municipality’s public transport, with the presentation of a pilot scheme for the city’s first fully electric bus.
The new vehicle will be added to the fleet of buses in Cartagena for a week as a trial run, switching among all of the routes within the city, and to mark the occasion passengers will be allowed to ride for free. The bus can carry a total of 72 passengers at any one time (26 seated, 44 standing and two spaces reserved for wheelchair passengers), and the intention is to gradually transform the entire public transport fleet in Cartagena, assuming that the trial run goes smoothly.
The batteries of the bus are recharged by means of a system which makes use of the energy produced every time the brakes are activated, and the vehicle is reported to be 90 per cent efficient (as opposed to the 30 per cent for “traditional” buses). In addition, practically no noise is produced, and passenger comfort is also enhanced by the provision of 4 USB charging points inside.