Luxembourg starts operation of all-electric buses

The first commercially manufactured all-electric Volvo buses have started operating in the city of Differdange in Luxembourg. The buses, named the Volvo 7900 Electric, can carry 85 passengers and are 12-metres long with low floors and three doors. They have 80% lower energy consumption than a comparable diesel bus, are silent, exhaust emission-free and are equipped with an electric motor and lithium-ion batteries.

Differdange’s focus on electrically powered buses is part of the city’s ambitious sustainability drive, with public transport forming a crucial focus area. The four electric buses are used on four routes with lengths from 8km to 9.5km. Each bus is driven approximately 25 minutes and then the buses’ batteries are fast-charged in three to six minutes at the end stations using an open interface known as OppCharge (opportunity charging), which follows the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association) recommendations.

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Tram system in Aarhus (Denmark) reduces emissions

A new tram system in Aarhus has achieved an impressive feat: it will increase mobility and cut down on emissions. It is estimated that the project will help Aarhus city save over 40 million euros.

​The first stage of the light rail project will be a new 12 kilometre line, named the "Urban Line". This will commence at Aarhus central station and pass through key locations in the city before connecting to an existing line that is being converted for light rail operation. 17 new stops will be added, while park and ride facilities near existing stops have been refurbished already. The project's feasibility study was funded by ELENA, a joint initiative from the European Investment Bank and European Commission.

​Once the new service is operational, it is expected to carry 39,000 passengers daily at speeds of up to 100km per hour. It is also expected to contribute 47GW of annual energy savings and avoid 7,300 tonnes of CO² emissions each year. Being powered by electricity, the system helps to reduce energy consumption, noise, and air pollution.

​In the longer term, the light rail system will make a substantial contribution to Aarhus’s ambition to become CO2 neutral by 2030.

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Prague city prepares for the electric buses deployment on regular route

As part of the long-term emission reduction strategy, the Prague Transport Company has been testing for a year and a half SOR electric bus. This bus is operated on standard lines 163 and 213 and the total mileage from the start of traffic reached 100,000 km. Overall, it is one of the most successful European electric project. "The experience of previous electro-bus projects enables us to prepare the largest such project in the framework of the Prague Public Transport, bringing it to full electrification", said Jan Šurovský, Technical Director of the Prague Transport Company.

Based on the positive results of long-term testing, Prague Transport Company is preparing full-scale electrification of bus line 207, which connects Žižkov quarter with the central area of ​​the city. For this line, Prague Transport Company plans to purchase 14 standard (12 meter long) electric buses. Due to the need of the necessary charging infrastructure as well as the tender for the delivery of electric buses, the Prague Transport Company expects to start operating these electric buses in September 2018.

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A methodology for calculating transport emissions in cities with limited traffic data: Case study of diesel particulates and black carbon emissions in Murmansk.

This paper presents a methodology for calculating transport emissions in cities with limited traffic data. It uses the European Computer Programme to Calculate Emissions from Road Transport (COPERT) 4 model, in order to calculate emissions. A case study was reviewed in the city of Murmansk, Russia.

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