Naples’ new electric bus fleet enters operation
The buses are being operated by local public transport provider, Azienda Napoletana Mobilita (ANM), and were first deployed on May 31st. The vehicles that have been deployed so far vary from 6.85-meter Higer minibuses with 31-passenger capacity all the way up to 12.2m standard-sized BYD buses with space for 86 passengers. Additionally, a number of Iveco electric buses have been delivered.
Details on the exact models used have not been shared, but ANM states the variation in size was a deliberate choice to ensure electric vehicles could be used on different routes across the ANM network. Eight of the buses will service routes along the Carlo III and Via delle Puglie corridors, with a further six being assigned to services at the Cavalleggeri d’Aosta depot. Critically, four bus routes will now be entirely electric, namely the C78, 654, C65 and 3M lines. Besides these, any remaining vehicles will supplement existing fleets on other bus lines such as C16, C63, C42, 132, 618, 194, 182, and 151. All buses are charged overnight at the ANM depot.
The new electric buses were backed by €180m in PNRR funding which was awarded to the city itself, covering a budget of €145m to purchase the buses and €35m to develop charging infrastructure. ANM states that once all 253 units have been delivered, its urban fleet will largely be made up of EVs with support from around 100 diesel and 80 methane-powered buses.
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