Electric bus fleet in Moscow became the largest in Europe

• Charging stations for electric buses in Moscow
• Electrobuses

2024

Electric bus fleet in Moscow became the largest in Europe

Moscow has the largest fleet of electric buses in Europe, numbering over 1800 units of equipment as of August 2024. This allowed the Russian capital to take a leading position among European cities in terms of the number of environmentally friendly public transport.

According to the press service of Rostec, the electric buses of the KAMAZ-6282, chosen as the main electric transport of the capital, are distinguished by high manufacturability. They are equipped with modern comfort systems, including climate control, USB charging and media screens with route information. For passengers with limited mobility, special devices are provided to facilitate boarding and disembarkation.

source = Department of Transport and Road Transport Infrastructure Development of Moscow

From 2018 to the middle of 2024, electric buses in Moscow transported almost half a billion passengers. Now they run on more than 130 routes, covering a significant part of the urban transport network. The successful experience of Moscow in the development of electric bus transport stimulates other regions of Russia to switch to environmentally friendly public transport.

An important aspect of the use of electric buses is their environmental friendliness. Replacing one diesel bus with an electric bus reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than 60 tons per year, which significantly improves the environmental situation in the metropolis.

In 2024, the delivery of updated electric buses to Moscow began. The new models received an improved design, touch buttons for stopping requirements and an improved climate control system. In addition, they are produced in a sanctioned stable configuration, which guarantees uninterrupted operation and maintenance.

The development of electric bus infrastructure in Moscow continues. Concern "Radioelectronic Technologies," which is part of Rostec, by August 2024 develops and produces ultra-fast charging stations for electric buses. These stations are capable of operating in a wide temperature range and have a high degree of protection against vandalism. It is assumed that this equipment will be delivered to Moscow.^[1]

Sobyanin announced the purchase of another 3800 electric buses

On February 25, 2024, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced the purchase of another 3,800 electric buses for the city. These vehicles should be delivered to the Russian capital by the end of 2030.

According to Sobyanin, taking into account these supplies, the total number of electric buses running in Moscow will increase to 5300 by 2030. They will replace buses on the usual routes, which will have a positive effect on the ecology of Moscow, the mayor said.

source = Sergey Sobyanin's Telegram channel

In his Telegram channel, he also pointed out the comfort of riding electric buses thanks to smooth and quiet driving. In addition, according to Sergei Sobyanin, new electric buses provide an electric heater and adaptive lighting, which changes depending on the time of day. The latest generation of electric buses began to ride almost 2 times more without recharging - 80 km instead of 40-50 km, Sobyanin said at the end of February 2024. He also drew attention to the fact that all electric buses are Russian-made. Under life cycle contracts, manufacturers are responsible for the technical serviceability of each machine for 15 years, the mayor of Moscow added.

By the end of February 2024, more than 1,470 electric buses run along Moscow routes within 10 districts. They are served at nine sites, including three new electric bus parks. It is expected that by the end of 2024 the city will receive about 800 new electric buses, Sergei Sobyanin said on February 25, 2024.

According to the Moscow Department of Nature Management, over 4 years of operation of electric buses in the capital, greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel buses decreased by 60,000 tons. The department also notes that the second plus of electric buses is to increase the availability of old and new districts of Moscow, which ensures their attractiveness for citizens and businesses.^[2]

2023

Electric bus caught fire in Moscow

On December 4, 2023, an electric bus ignited in the north-east of Moscow. The incident took place on 1a Pleshcheev Street, opposite the Bibirevo metro station, when the vehicle was connected to the charging station.

The State Unitary Enterprise Mosgortrans reported that the ignited electric bus was serviced under a life cycle contract by the manufacturer - PJSC Kamaz. The area of ​ ​ the fire was approximately 20 square meters. As a result of the incident, no one was injured: there were no passengers in the cabin of the vehicle, and the driver was able to leave the car.

At about 12:50 Moscow time, an incident involving an electric bus occurred at the terminal station opposite house 20 on Kostroma Street. According to preliminary information, the electric bus was at the terminal station without passengers. Special services worked at the scene, - noted in Mosgortrans.

The causes of the incident will be established by a special commission of the State Unitary Enterprise Mosgortrans together with the manufacturer. The vehicle is completely burned out and cannot be restored. Meanwhile, auto expert Pyotr Bakanov says that the fire could have occurred for a variety of reasons - from an abandoned cigarette butt to deliberate arson. Specialists have to establish whether the cause was technical in nature or the fire arose due to external factors. The electric bus could have a problem with the charging system - for example, there was a short circuit in the wiring. It is also possible that the incident was provoked by bad weather conditions.

It is important to identify whether the problem was systemic. If there is no consistency here, but there is, say, negligence, then this is one thing. And if this is a systemic problem, then you need to dig further and check the rest of the electric buses of the fleet, "says Bakanov.[3]

Moscow buys 1,200 electric buses as part of the largest purchase

In mid-August 2023, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced the largest purchase of electric buses for the city. We are talking about the acquisition of about 1200 vehicles.

By the end of the year, it is planned to receive about 400 domestically produced electric buses. They come on the largest purchase of 1200 units. More than 100 new cars are already operating on Moscow routes, according to the website of the mayor of Moscow on August 13, 2023.

Sergei Sobyanin announced the largest purchase of electric buses

Electric buses are supplied to Moscow under life cycle contracts. This means, as Sobyanin explained, that from the moment of transfer to the Mosgortrans park, the manufacturer is fully responsible for their technical serviceability for 15 years.

According to the mayor of the capital, electric buses are constantly being updated. So, the new models are able to go 80 km without recharging, and not 40-50 km, as before, the head of the city added.

We also continue to launch new eco-friendly routes. Now there are 90 of them - 11 more since the beginning of the year. To increase these numbers, we built the Mitino electric bus park. We will organize 23 routes on its basis until the end of 2024, - wrote the mayor of Moscow in his Telegram channel in mid-August 2023.

By this day, another fleet for electric buses is being built in Novokosin (eastern administrative district of Moscow), it is planned to be opened by the end of 2023. By mid-August 2023, the work was completed by 85%. The area of ​ ​ the park is almost 3 hectares. 13 ultra-fast charging stations and 78 charging posts for ground eco-transport will be installed on the territory. The fleet for electric buses is designed for 78 cars, they will replace diesel buses in the east of the capital and will help reduce the impact on the environment. Increasing the number of cars on the line will reduce the waiting time for transport at stops. The project involves the creation of about 200 new workplaces^[4] of^[5] will^[6]

KamAZ will supply Moscow with a thousand electric buses for 63.3 billion rubles

KamAZ will supply 1 thousand electric buses to Moscow for 63.3 billion rubles. The automaker announced this two-year contract with the State Unitary Enterprise Mosgortrans on March 21, 2023.

According to the terms of the contract, the supply of electric buses from April 2023 to December 2024 is provided. Every month, 50 new cars will go on Moscow routes. This is the largest contract for the supply of such vehicles in Europe, KamAZ said.

KamAZ electric bus in Moscow

The company stressed that in 2022 KamAZ promptly implemented measures to import substitution and search for alternative suppliers of auto components, so the consequences of the sanctions pressure that Russian industrial enterprises faced in the new conditions did not affect the company's capabilities in the production of electric buses and other passenger vehicles.

KamAZ has extensive experience in the development and production of such high-tech products as an electric bus. For the fifth year now, this innovative transport has been successfully operated in the capital of Russia. We are glad that our product, created according to the most complex technical task of the customer, has passed the test of time and the largest metropolis, allows us to improve the infrastructure of the capital of Russia, to solve important issues of the environmental agenda. The conclusion of the next contract, the largest in the history of deliveries of electric buses, is a significant event for us, confirming the high potential of the company and reliability as a supplier of innovative passenger equipment, - commented Samat Sattarov, director of passenger transport at KamAZ.

By March 2023, 1,055 electric buses are entering Moscow routes every day. In 2023, it is planned to install about 200 ultra-fast charging stations in the city and launch about 30 electric bus routes.^[7]

Moscow agreed to purchase 1200 new electric buses

Moscow has agreed to purchase 1,200 new electric buses. This was announced on March 9, 2023 by the deputy mayor of the city for transport Maxim Liksutov.

According to him, these electric buses will be delivered to Moscow by PJSC KamAZ and the GAZ Group. Liksutov called this contract the largest single purchase of electric buses in Europe. Transport will be delivered in 2023-2024.

New electric buses in Moscow will be supplied by KamAZ and GAZ

Maxim Liksutov also said that in 2023 Moscow will continue to develop the charging infrastructure for electric transport and open a new electric bus park in Mitin.

On behalf of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, we are developing environmentally friendly urban transport that does not pollute the environment and increases the comfort of travel. In 2022, the largest electric bus park in Europe, Krasnaya Pakhra, was opened in TINAO. Electric buses first went to New Moscow. Another 8 electric bus routes were launched in different parts of the capital, more than 6.7 million passengers have already used them, - said Maxim Liksutov.

On March 9, 2023, the press service of Mosgortrans published statistics, according to which 1,055 electric buses enter Moscow routes every day. Passengers are increasingly choosing eco-buses for trips around the city - 239 became the most popular of the 13 new electric bus routes, it has transported more than 1 million passengers since its launch, the company noted. In 2023, according to Mosgortrans, it is planned to install about 200 ultra-fast charging stations in Moscow and launch about 30 electric bus routes.

In March 2023, it became known about the release of new electric buses on routes in Moscow. According to Liksutov, their range has been increased, they are silent and maneuverable. Also, the machines installed a more wear-resistant floor covering, adapted the lighting system in the cabin and increased the front route indicator.^[8]

2022: Moscow increases the fleet of electric buses by 1.5 times

On December 15, 2022, it became known about the decision of the Moscow Government to increase the fleet of operated electric buses by 1.5 times - it is planned to supply more than 500 new units. This will happen in 2023, according to the metropolitan Department of Transport.

It is emphasized that the number of charging stations for electric transport is planned to be almost doubled.

Electric bus in Moscow

In June 2022, more than 1,000 electric buses worked in the capital. Among them are 750 KamAZ electric buses.

Oleg Artemyev, a deputy of the Moscow City Duma, said in mid-November 2022 that, despite foreign economic pressure on Russia, the project to switch to electric buses is actively developing.

{{quote 'It is significant that the extremely difficult situation that has developed due to foreign economic pressure on our country did not affect the implementation of this project. This was made possible by the effective management of all areas of urban life and timely support measures implemented by the city authorities.<...> The city continues to develop, the economy of Moscow is extremely stable. And the margin of safety turned out to be such that the city was able to calmly cope with several difficult periods in a row. Neither the coronavirus pandemic nor the unprecedented sanctions could disrupt the usual course of life of the capital, change the vector of development and abandon the social priorities that have become familiar, ― he said. }} At the same time, he said that by November 2022, more than a thousand electric buses were already involved in 79 routes. Artemyev said that by the end of 2022 it was planned to receive another 33 electric buses - by November 17, 2022, specialists from the Sokolnichesky Car Repair and Construction Plant were accepting new cars.^[9]

2021: Plan to acquire 400 electric buses in the amount of 24 billion rubles

Moscow will purchase 400 electric buses worth 24 billion rubles under life cycle contracts. This was announced on August 19, 2021 by the Moscow DIPP.

Electric buses are an eco-friendly form of public transport. Compared to vehicles with internal combustion engines, they are more productive and reliable. Cars are not tied to the contact network: charging takes 6-10 minutes at end stops and in parks.

Moscow has been purchasing electric buses under life cycle contracts since 2018. During this time, the city signed seven such contracts totaling 60.6 billion rubles, providing for the supply and maintenance of 1000 electric buses. In 2021, the purchase of electric buses is carried out at the expense of the issue of "green" bonds, which Moscow placed in the spring of 2021. With the winners of two competitions in 2021, the city signed contracts for the supply and service of 400 cars for a period of 15 years. The total price of contracts exceeds 24 billion rubles, - said Vladimir Efimov.

He clarified that the winners of the tenders held in 2021 for the supply of electric buses were Russian Buses - GAZ Group LLC and KAMAZ PJSC.

All electric buses purchased by Moscow meet the most relevant world standards: manufacturers equip them with equipment for transporting passengers with disabilities, a climate control system, satellite navigation, USB connectors for charging mobile devices. In addition, passengers can use free Wi-Fi in electric buses.

Our cooperation with suppliers of land-based urban transport vehicles is an example of transport projects in the city. The life cycle contracts that we sign with manufacturers ensure uninterrupted operation of ground urban transport and eliminate the occurrence of technical malfunctions on the lines. Such service contracts give the city confidence that the manufacturer understands its responsibility and produces transport for the daily transportation of residents and guests of the capital - said Maxim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow, Head of the Department of Transport and Development of Road Transport Infrastructure of Moscow.

Moscow has been signing life cycle contracts in the transport sector since 2013. Such a mechanism of public-private partnership allows bringing another environmentally friendly type of transport to the roads of the city, updating the rolling stock of the metro and land transport parks.

Life cycle contracts are of a long-term nature - they are concluded for 7-30 years, depending on the specifics of the purchased equipment. This gives Moscow the opportunity to get the best price-quality ratio of equipment and its maintenance, evenly and predictably distribute costs. In this case, the city pays not for the very fact of service of equipment, but for ensuring its performance. Thus, if cars break down, stand idle, do not meet our requirements, then the budget does not bear costs. For the investor, KZhC is capacity utilization for a long period and the possibility of guaranteed income during the entire term of the contract, - explained the head of the Department of Investment and Industrial Policy Alexander Prokhorov.

The capital entered into the first two LCCs for the supply and service of electric buses in the spring of 2018 with Russian Buses - GAZ Group LLC and KAMAZ PJSC. The total price of the two contracts amounted to 12.8 billion rubles. The city purchased 200 cars. With the same companies in 2019 and 2020, Moscow signed another 3 contracts for 23.7 billion rubles, involving the supply of 400 cars.

In August 2021, life cycle contracts account for almost half of Moscow's PPP agreements. Most of the LCC was concluded in the transport sector: over five years their volume amounted to about 490 billion rubles. With the help of the KZhC, the city acquires not only electric buses, but also rolling stock for the metro, and updates the tram fleet. Thus, the capital purchased 1,576 metro cars and 300 modern low-floor trams.

2020: Deliveries of 200 electric buses

On June 17, 2020, it became known that KamAZ supplied Mosgortrans with the first 100 electric buses as part of the third contract concluded six months earlier.

100 units of transport were shipped between February and June 2020. KamAZ will have to deliver the same amount to Mosgortrans in the second half of the year. The automaker takes over the maintenance of rolling stock and charging infrastructure for 15 years.

Mosgortrans purchased 100 electric buses from KamAZ and will receive so many more before the end of the year

According to Andrei Dolganov, head of the KamAZ passenger electric transport promotion service, electric buses were delivered strictly on schedule without delay, despite the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. However, the company still faced a two-week wait for the supply of some components from Europe, which have no analogues in Russia. By June 18, 2020, the deficit has been eliminated, he said.

A new batch of electric buses, which KamAZ supplies to Moscow, is equipped with a universal multi-service system that collects and analyzes the flow of data from various sensors of the electric bus. This system records passenger traffic, evaluates the quality and effectiveness of machine control. It also integrates with the Speaking City radio and audio orientation system, which helps visually impaired and blind passengers when boarding and disembarking from the cabin.

Electric buses replenish the energy supply in 6-10 minutes using fast charging stations at the final stops of the routes, the range of each car is about 40-50 km. The capacity of the transport is 85 passengers.

According to the results of a survey cited in KamAZ, Muscovites appreciated the advantages of environmentally friendly transport and speak positively about the work of new electric buses.^[10]

2018: Kamaz wins Mosgortrans tender

The tender for the supply of one hundred units of electric buses for Mosgortrans, won by KAMAZ in mid-May 2018, was the first step in entering the Moscow market with passenger transport.

The electric bus KAMAZ-6282, developed by the designers of the Scientific and Technical Center of PJSC KAMAZ, is one of the most high-tech products of the company. Low-floor, accommodating at least 85 passengers, the electric bus is equipped with the most modern equipment - from satellite navigation to USB connectors for charging mobile devices. In addition to the machines themselves, 31 ultra-fast charging stations will also be delivered to Moscow, it is planned to purchase them from one of the partner companies. Today, the time to fully charge one electric bus takes only 24 minutes, and this is not the limit.

In addition, KAMAZ must provide a life cycle contract for 15 years. "This means that in the near future a service center will be created in Moscow to service the eco-friendly passenger equipment KAMAZ," said Nikolai Pronin, Deputy General Director for Passenger Transport of KAMAZ PJSC. - One cannot fail to note the mass of Mosgortrans requirements for the product, which were reflected in the terms of reference - more than a thousand, from mask changes to telemetry equipment. If the standard terms of reference are two or three pages, then here it took over 150 pages. The customer's requirements also include maintaining the technical availability factor at a very high level: 0.9 - for machines and 0.97 - for charging stations. "

High product requirements are an objective need. The terms of reference were discussed publicly, all parties were interested in joint work: KAMAZ, Mosgortrans and the Moscow Department of Transport. Thanks to this approach, it was possible to offer the customer an electric bus option suitable for the capital.

"Our goal is to be able to offer each city, region, depending on the climate and infrastructure, our own, optimal solution for them. This was reflected in KAMAZ's passenger transport strategy, adopted in November last year, "Nikolai Pronin emphasized. - Electric buses are a product for large cities, for resort areas. In Crimea, for example, even the air is completely different - how not to think about preserving such oases? Trolleybuses are relevant where the contact network has been preserved - by the way, very expensive. Diesel eco-friendly buses are also in demand. We intend to develop our line of passenger cars not only "deep into," that is, with various energy sources, but also "wide" in order to be able to offer the client a particularly large bus and an average bus. Having a basic machine, then change the dimension, layout schemes - as is customary in ordinary world practice. The tasks of expanding the lineup before the design service are already indicated. "

Notes