Mauro Luigi Valenti confirmed as General Director of AVM while the city introduces 44 MAN e-buses and prepares for a hydrogen fleet rollout by mid-2026.
Venice doubles down on sustainable public transport with new electric buses and a confirmed leadership strategy.
Mauro Luigi Valenti, formerly interim head, has officially been appointed General Director following the resignation of Giovanni Seno in January 2025. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro put an end to any speculation over a public call for the role, confirming: “No new tender. We continue like this.”
Valenti—an economist by training, AVM veteran for over 30 years, and previously head of Administration, Finance and Control—now holds all the powers formerly held by the previous director, including HR and administrative responsibilities.
A quiet leader, a visible debut
Valenti’s first public appearance in his new role came during a visit by Mayor Brugnaro to the Actv depot in Mestre, where the 44 new MAN electric buses and their corresponding overnight charging infrastructure were presented.
The buses, purchased using funds from the City of Venice, are expected to enter service shortly.
These additions bring the total Actv bus fleet to 515 vehicles, including a 20% reserve. The full-electric buses measure 12 meters and will serve urban lines, adding to the 30 zero-emission buses already in operation in Lido and Pellestrina, as well as the recently reactivated tram line after a four-month suspension.
“This is just the first phase of our investment plan to renew our fleet,” said Mayor Brugnaro. “With innovation, expertise and a clear commitment to sustainability, we are working toward a zero-emission public transport system—on road and rail—across the entire urban area, including the islands.”
The €28 million investment (23 for the buses and 5 for the charging infrastructure) includes 44 overnight plug-in charging points and an additional mobile slow-charging station.
Next up: 90 hydrogen buses by 2026
In addition to the electric rollout, 90 hydrogen-powered buses are set to arrive starting January 2026, with all deliveries expected to be completed by June 2026.
Four hydrogen units have already been delivered but remain idle due to refuelling issues—currently, the only operational hydrogen station, Eni’s facility in San Giuliano, is under maintenance for technological updates and certifications.
“Eni has assured us it will be operational again by mid-April,” Valenti stated, noting that the initial four vehicles will be used for testing and driver training.
Comfort, accessibility, and safety at the forefront
The new MAN e-buses offer a high level of onboard comfort and safety, featuring:
- LED lighting
- USB ports at every seat and in wheelchair areas
- Audio/video passenger information systems
- Manual ramps for accessibility
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Passenger counting systems
- Full-height tempered glass driver partition
- Automatic fire suppression systems
- Six onboard CCTV cameras
- Emergency alarm pedal for drivers
