Moscow boasts the largest fleet of electric transit buses in Europe. By the end of 2021, there will be 1,000 e-buses on the streets of the Russian capital.

Now the Moscow transit authority reports that it will generally buy no more diesel buses. “Starting this year, by the decision of the Mayor of Moscow, we will not buy diesel buses, except for transportation in a special mode,” said Makim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport. “Only electric buses. We will also install about 200 electric charging spots a year for the development of personal electric transport.”

Over the next 4 years, the city plans to buy 2,675 more electric buses, and authorities expect to have converted the entire fleet to electric drive by 2032.

Moscow winters are notoriously nasty, but the transit agency reports no problems—electric buses have operated through three winters now, logging more than 40 million kilometers and more than 90 million passengers, “without interruptions.”

E-buses are popular with riders and residents. Transit agency Mosgortrans reports that the electric bus has become the main mode of transport for one of every five Muscovites, and that replacing one diesel bus with an electric bus reduces CO₂ emissions by 60.7 tons per year. A survey of passengers and residents noted “a major improvement of the environmental situation in the area and in apartments, especially whose windows overlook the road.”

Russian truck manufacturer KAMAZ recently opened a new plant to produce electric buses in Moscow. Local production and maintenance of e-buses is expected to significantly reduce costs and improve service.

By 2023, Moscow plans to install 372 new charging stations for electric buses, bringing the city’s total to over 500.

Source: Mosgortrans