E-bus deal puts Oslo on track for zero emissions goal

Reuters Videos
2 年前

STORY: Will Oslo be the first capital city in the world with an all-electric public transport system?

Electric ferries, trams and bikes are already commonplace in the city of 700,000.

And now a new agreement on electric buses brings the Norwegian capital one step closer to reaching its goal….

of becoming the world’s first emissions-free city by 2030.

‘’We're doing all of this to cut emissions, to reduce noise, and to make the air cleaner so it makes the city better for everyone."

Oslo is replacing its diesel-fuelled buses with 450 electric ones

as part of the city’s push towards all-electric public transport by the end of 2023.

Vice-Mayor responsible for environment and transport Sirin Stav:

‘’Air pollution is a major concern for me and the city government and this is exactly why we are working hard at reducing car traffic by investing heavily in public transport at the same time as electrifying it, to reduce air pollution."

Replacing the buses will cost roughly $47 million

but Stav says the initiative will save the city money in the long term.

"Of course there is a cost doing these investments, we need to invest in electric infrastructure but now we're getting a return on those investments and it's actually saving us money. It's cheaper. The maintenance is cheaper, it's also cheaper for the operators of the electric buses, so all in all, this is a win-win situation."

Environmental group ZERO applauded the e-bus move….

but also called for transparency about the emissions associated with the production of such electric vehicles.

Some locals feel there's still more to be done.

'"I'm a bike messenger. I've been riding for a few years now, and every winter, we seemingly breathe in dirtier and dirtier air, you can see it on your glasses and every March, April after spring, the dust just seems to cover the air."

Oslo's move comes amid a global push by major cities worldwide to try to cut their air pollution.

The Scandinavian country has been making major strides towards electrification in recent years.

Electric cars made up nearly two thirds of Norway's new sales in 2021.

And the country boasted the world’s highest proportion of electric vehicles the same year.