As part of its goal to modernise public transport, Riviera Trasporti will launch three fully electric buses from 1 April in the city of Imperia. Officially delivered on 21 March, the new vehicles are ISUZU 8-metre models with capacity for 52 passengers and feature low-floor access for passengers with disabilities.
This milestone marks the beginning of the 2025–2029 Industrial Plan, aimed at advancing sustainable mobility in the Ligurian region.
Charging infrastructure and operation
The new eBuses will operate across three city routes: Largo Nannollo Piana – Caramagna, Largo Nannollo Piana – Coppi Rossi, and Largo Nannollo Piana – Rio Sgorreto.
To support their operation, four Kenpower chargers have been installed at the company’s premises, offering 150 kW DC output and enabling full charging within 90 minutes. The infrastructure investment amounts to €160,000.
“This delivery is what people can now see, but the real work started below the surface two years ago with the restructuring of the company and planning for a new transport model,” explains Claudio Scajola, Mayor and President of the Province of Imperia.
Scajola also highlights that “this is only the tip of the iceberg: around 30 new vehicles, mostly electric, will arrive by 2026.” He adds that route designs have been updated based on demographic shifts, while employment conditions for workers have significantly improved.
“We expect to achieve full service efficiency within a year, with on-time, geolocated vehicles and a public transport system that genuinely meets community needs,” he states.
A large-scale fleet modernisation strategy
The procurement of the three ISUZU eBuses came at a cost of €1,239,000 excluding VAT. However, this is just the first step in a much broader strategy. According to Riviera Trasporti’s Board of Directors and shareholder assembly, the company plans to invest nearly €10 million by 2028 to renew its entire fleet.
“The plan also includes the delivery of three Euro 6 diesel interurban buses for longer routes, and one 12-metre electric Solaris bus, expected by October 2025,” says Maurizio Temesio, President of Riviera Trasporti.
Temesio notes that “the investment goes beyond vehicles—it includes charging stations and a dedicated power facility, with similar infrastructure to be built in Sanremo and Ventimiglia.”
The vehicle deployment timeline includes:
- 3 Euro 6 interurban buses (12 m, 78 seats) – March 2025
- 3 Euro 6 minibuses for the Valle Arroscia area – June 2025
- 1 Solaris electric interurban bus (12 m, 70 seats) – October 2025
- 1 interurban bus (31 seats) – December 2025
- 4 electric buses – by 30 June 2026
- 3 electric buses – by 31 December 2026
- 8 additional buses – in 2027–2028
Including the three units introduced this month, the plan envisions a total of 26 new buses by 2028, with 80% of the funding provided through public subsidies.
Currently, Riviera Trasporti operates a fleet of 120 buses, eight of which are electric. To support the transition, the number of charging points will be gradually increased over the next four years.
