Eco buses in Venice Lido and Pellestrina Islands

Summary

The Venice Lido and Pellestrina Island transport system will be fully electric by 2021. 30 eco buses will replace the diesel ones thanks to the European Investment Bank, Ministry of Infrastructure and city funds.

Description

Since 2018, the City of Venice has launched a program to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions produced by public transport. With the help of planned interventions from AVM S.p.A. and ACTV S.p.A. (the local in-house public transport companies), the city can introduce electric “eco-buses” on the islands of Venice Lido and Pellestrina. This will help fill the need to replace traditional diesel vehicles.

The project involves the purchase of 30 electric buses and the setup of 15 charging points (9 fast, 6 slow + 4 transformer cabs). The recharge will guarantee a travel limit compatible with the transport needs of the islands (70 km/day).

Thanks to this program, it will be possible to reduce the annual emissions of CO₂ by 2,300 tons, nitrogen oxides and their mixtures by 17 tons, carbon monoxide by 16 tons, hydrocarbons by 1 ton and particulate matter by 245 kilograms. The program will also help reduce compounds related to public road transport.

These innovative and smart buses have 88 max capacity, 27 seats and 2 for people with disabilities, USB ports, free-on-board WIFI service, info monitor and audio-video circuits to follow the route stop by stop through audio messages and graphic images.

The city will invest a total of about 28 million euros for the described modern and eco-sustainable transport system. They will receive loan benefits from the European Fund for Strategic Investments, the European Investment Bank, the Ministry of Transport, and other local funders. The “green” turning point of Lido and Pellestrina is strengthened, both for the quality of liveability and for the environmental sustainability of the two islands as a tourist destination.

Due to the COVID -19 emergency/lockdown, the project upgrade has slowed down, but hopefully, it will be completed by 2021.

How does it work?

The eco-buses are equipped with battery packs with a distance of 70 km/day, guaranteed for 7 years and 15,000 charging cycles.

Next steps

In the next years, the city will renovate the whole transport fleet. Today the Actv fleet counts on 59 new last generation buses. By the beginning of 2022, 75% of users will travel on new buses. By 2023, there will be around 200 new vehicles. Moreover, the installation of 50 charging stations for private cars is also essential.