Italy: Karsan to supply 42 battery-electric articulated buses to Bari
An Europe-wide tender for the procurement of 42 battery-electric articulated buses was launched as recently as May this year. The vehicles are set to operate on Bari’s four future high-frequency Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines, which are designed to ensure fast progress and high service frequencies. The buses must be operational for 20 hours a day, with an average speed of 18.5 km/h and a climbing ability of five percent.
To meet these requirements, the tender specified the procurement of low-floor articulated buses measuring 18 to 18.75 metres in length, with a capacity for at least 110 passengers. The battery-electric buses must also feature a minimum battery capacity of 430 kWh and offer a range of 145 kilometres. Charging is to be carried out at a minimum power of 100 kW per plug, with each bus equipped with one charging point on each side.
The Turkish manufacturer Karsan won the tender, partly due to its partnership with the Italian distributor Kmobility. The company impressed with its e-ATA 18 battery-electric articulated bus, which has been available since 2021 and can accommodate up to 135 passengers.
The electric bus model is powered by a 500 kW electric drivetrain. The required energy is supplied by multiple LFP battery cells, which, in their maximum configuration, offer a capacity of 662 kWh. Karsan states the range as up to 450 kilometres. Charging can be carried out via plug at up to 300 kW on both sides of the vehicle, with a full charging cycle taking approximately four hours and 20 minutes. However, Karsan has not disclosed which configuration Bari ultimately selected.
It will still be some time before the 42 battery-electric articulated buses enter service in the Italian city. Delivery is scheduled for June 2026. They are set to be deployed in Bari’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, which is due to launch this summer. The project includes the four high-frequency bus lines mentioned earlier, as well as dedicated traffic lights and charging stations along the routes.
“We took the first steps together in the transition to electric public transportation in the Italian city of Bari. We are delighted to be signing new contracts as a sign of the high satisfaction generated by our Karsan vehicles currently operating in the city,” said Okan Baş, CEO of Karsan. This new order is not the first for the Turkish manufacturer in the Italian port city. The first vehicles have been in operation since 2023, and Karsan already has a total of 340 electric buses deployed across 40 Italian cities.
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