The first steps towards the electrification of the Start Romagna fleet have begun.
The first 100% electric buses have entered service in the urban network of Rimini.
These consist of three fully electric eight-metre Karsan vehicles.
They will be used on routes 1, 2, 14, and 15.
“The process outlined in our industrial plan to equip urban routes with 100 percent electric vehicles, aimed at reducing pollutant emissions in the cities, is now entering its final phase,” commented the president of Start Romagna, Roberto Sacchetti.
“With the commencement of service on route 1, we are initiating a gradual process that will increase the number of vehicles in Rimini from 3 to 22 by the end of next year, coinciding with the completion of the electrification of the depot,” he added.
“Rimini has a history of electric transport that began with the trolleybus and has since evolved into a coastal metro,” said the councillor for mobility of the municipality of Rimini, Roberta Frisoni.
“With the launch of the first non-electric trolleybuses, we are taking another step towards more sustainable mobility for the environment and human health, while also making it more comfortable. We are starting with the electrification of public transport in the historic centre and along the coastal area, with plans to expand this to route 4,” she added.
The start of this phase is being celebrated with a specific communication campaign: the new vehicles on the road are easily identifiable thanks to a green livery featuring the inscription and graphical representation “charging in progress,” indicating a gradual process of introducing electric buses.
For the electrification of the fleet in the Rimini basin, a total of 11.5 million euros has been allocated, entirely funded by resources from the PNRR and the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Mobility, while approximately 2.28 million euros has been allocated for the infrastructure, funded by the PSNMS.
