TPER Bologna announces electric bus tender

TPER Bologna is inviting tenders for the procurement of new electric buses in two lots. One lot relates to 35 trolleybuses with IMC (In Motion Charging) technology, with an option for a further 35, while the second comprises 19 BEV buses with a length of around 12 metres. The tenders will run until 31 March 2025.

The total value of the new tender, including both lots, is 126.480 million euros. It is set to expire on 31 March 2025. The first lot is for the In Motion Charging buses, which are expected to be between 18 and 18.75 metres in length, with 4 doors, IMC functionality and two seats reserved for people with disabilities. For the second lot, TPER wants full electric buses with a low floor, a length between 12 and 12.30 metres, 3 doors, a wheelchair station, and opportunity charge (fast charging) technology via a pantograph charger.

These are not the first electric buses in TPER fleet, as the public transport operator is deploying a batch of 24 Karsan electric buses, for which the tender was awarded in late 2022, in addition to a fleet of VDL Citea, which were ordered in 2021. Kempower delivered Bologna’s depot bus charging infrastructure early in 2024.

TPER also invested in other new energy technology and placed a major order for hydrogen buses with Solaris at the end of 2023. The tender for the bus order was announced in December 2022. The Bologna-based public transport operator even set up a joint venture together with Wolftank in the area of hydrogen refuelling systems.

sustainable-bus.com, autobusweb.com (in Italian)