Galway is set to be the first Irish city to have a completely hybrid Bus Éireann fleet and has taken delivery of its first 26 electric hybrid vehicles.
The low emission buses will enter service over the next few weeks, with a further batch being delivered towards the end of the year. The transition of the Galway City bus network to electric hybrid buses is expected to be completed by 2022.
Minister of state at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton, said: “This move reflects government’s ambition to reduce emissions and make public transport a viable alternative to the private car, with the added benefit of reducing congestion and improving air quality.
“I’m delighted that Galway will be the first city in the country to make the switch to hybrid buses, and I look forward to seeing the shift in the coming years to more sustainable transport including active travel.”
Bus Éireann’s deployment of 61 hybrid buses this year, beginning in Galway, is a part of its recently published sustainability strategy. Bus Éireann has committed to halving greenhouse gas emissions while also growing passenger numbers by 30% by 2030.
Brian Connolly, regional manager west, Bus Éireann, said: “Bus Éireann is an integral part of Galway and its community, employing 255 people in the local area.
“The city bus service in particular has seen considerable growth in the recent years, with passenger numbers doubling between 2011 and 2019 from 2.8 million a year to 5.6 million and we expect this to increase significantly in the coming years. These new buses are extremely comfortable and well-equipped for passengers.”
In addition to hybrid technology Bus Éireann will also be introducing three hydrogen-fuelled zero emission buses for Dublin commuter routes. Furthermore, the National Transport Authority tender is live to source zero emission battery electric vehicles for the Athlone town service.
