Back to list Print 23. Mar. 2021

“Rīgas satiksme” has invited producers of electric busses and hydrogen fuel cell busses to collaborate in testing of busses

Use of battery powered busses requires new knowledge and experience, which can be gained by running practical tests in the urban traffic. Therefore, “Rīgas satiksme” has expressed the wish and invited the producers of electric busses and hydrogen fuel cell busses to collaborate in order to test environmentally friendly vehicles by transporting passengers on various routes in Riga.  

As Ingus Rūtiņš, member of the Board of “Rīgas satiksme” explained: “Use of battery powered busses requires new knowledge and experience, which can be gained by both constantly following the market development trends and also by running practical tests in the urban traffic. Such test drives allow ascertaining of the suitability of energy accumulation solutions to the route network, charging solutions, as well as impact of the driving habits on the power consumption. It is planned to run the tests as continuous market research for the public tenders planned in the future”.

Scania Latvia (Scania Citywide) and M.E.Lat-Lux (Mercedes-Benz eCitaro) have offered their busses in response to collaboration invitation and test launch. It is planned that the busses of these producers might be running in the city streets in May and July. “Rīgas satiksme” is also expecting offers for potential vehicle testing periods from other producers of electric busses and hydrogen fuel cell busses.

Džineta Innusa, Chairman of the Board of “Rīgas satiksme”: “Over the next five to seven years we will have to replace at least 255 - 260 busses with diesel engines. These have already become obsolete, and most probably at least part of them will have to be replaced by electric transport, since green components will be mandatory in the operation of public transport starting from 2024.  That is why “Rīgas satiksme” is open to collaboration with any producer that has something to offer to vehicle testing.”

“Rīgas satiksme” has already informed that tests of hydrogen fuel cell powered bus "Solaris Bus & Coach" were run from February 6 to 11. In order to gain more complete data, the hydrogen fuel cell powered bus carried passengers in several bus routes – No 14, 20, 47, 55 and 56.

To communicate with «Rīgas satiksme», please use our hotline 20361862 or email to info@rigassatiksme.lv. You can also contact us on our website at www.rigassatiksme.lv, section «Contact us» («Sazinies ar mums»), where everybody can submit his/her application.

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