The shift towards electric public transport is driven by the new tenders

The renewal of local public transport bus fleets and their adaptation to higher environmental standards is an inevitable step, set to gather pace in the coming years. In this context, the conversion of fleets from internal combustion engines to electric power plays a fundamental role; however, this process still appears to be held back by assessments that do not fully take into account the benefits associated with choosing electric buses. Indeed, even today, when analysing the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) over a six-year timeframe (which is shorter than the average nine-year concession period), electric buses offer an advantage over traditional engines, which – thanks to the lower running costs of battery-powered vehicles – can increase further over time. The economic factor does not, however, encompass all the benefits associated with the shift to electric public transport. Consider, for example, the reduction in noise pollution and the improvement in air quality associated with the use of electric motors.

Based on these assessments as a whole, guidelines could be drawn up for inclusion in future tenders for the procurement of buses for local public transport, with a view to incentivising the purchase of electric vehicles. According to an analysis by Motus-E, an incentive scheme could be devised with five different tiers.

• Firstly, a bonus could be introduced for ‘zero tailpipe emissions’. In other words, rather than simply requiring compliance with the Euro VI-E standard, the call for tenders should award a higher score to vehicles capable of guaranteeing zero tailpipe emissions;

• Similarly, the calls for proposals could introduce a principle of energy efficiency per kilometre travelled, given that internal combustion engines are inherently less energy-efficient than electric motors;

• Furthermore, consideration could be given to making the most of noise reduction measures, given that noise pollution is a real problem associated with internal-combustion buses, which is particularly noticeable in city centres;