Free Eco-Bus rides till end of March
abu dhabi — The first fully electric passenger bus in the region is here, and it is set to welcome Abu Dhabi residents aboard — for free.
Masdar, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, has officially launched the Eco-Bus in partnership with the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi (DoT), bus manufacturer Hafilat Industry LLC , and technology company Siemens.
The Eco-Bus will serve a six-stop route covering Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station and Masdar City. It will be integrated into the DoT’s existing fleet and the service will be free until the end of March 2019.
“The launch of the Eco-Bus is a milestone for the UAE in a number of ways,” said Yousef Baselaib, executive director for sustainable real estate at Masdar.
“Helping the UAE deliver on its sustainability targets, including more environmentally friendly mobility solutions, is a key part of our mandate at Masdar and high on the agenda at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2019, which will showcase opportunities for further convergence of knowledge and technologies in the pursuit of cleaner and more energy-efficient transport.”
The Eco-Bus has been designed to withstand the heat and humidity of the UAE climate, which have long been the key performance challenges for electric vehicles.
Jointly developed by Masdar, Hafilat Industry and Siemens Middle East, it seats 30 passengers and has a range of 150 kilometres per battery charge. Solar panels are also used to power the Eco-Bus’ auxiliary systems.
Abu Dhabi’s DoT was heavily involved in the pilot phase of the EcoBus, which carried out extensive tests of the vehicle’s technical performance as well as the user experience. Siemens provided the vehicle’s propulsion technology, while Hafilat designed and built the Eco-Bus.
“This initiative is just one of a series of future initiatives that are aimed at enhancing the smart trans- portation system in Abu Dhabi and making it part of the daily lives of public transport users,” said Ahmed Ateeq Al Mazrouei, adviser to the chairman of the DoT and head of the buses and water ferries team.
The Eco-Bus has a lightweight aluminium body and a unique water-cooling system to optimise battery life and efficiency, even when the outdoor temperature is at its highest. The vehicle also has a highly energy-efficient onboard air-conditioning system.
It is driven by a Siemens traction system, which includes a gearless PEM motor. Highly efficient, quiet and virtually maintenance-free, this system has been designed to last the bus’ lifetime.
“This project is a great combination of the right technology and the right partners, and supports the development of environmentally friendly transport infrastructure in the UAE,” said Uwe Troeger, senior executive vice president for digital factory and process industries and drives, Siemens Middle East.
Helping the UAE deliver on its sustainability targets, including more environmentally friendly mobility solutions, is a key part of our mandate at Masdar.”
Yousef Baselaib, executive director
for sustainable real estate at Masdar
This is one of the initiatives that are aimed at enhancing the smart transportation system in Abu Dhabi and making it part of the daily lives of the public.”
Ahmed Ateeq Al Mazrouei, head of the buses and water ferries team, DoT