February 15, 2021 - Promet Split could be the first company in Croatia whose fleet will include electric buses thanks to European funding. The Split city carrier also strives to have one of the youngest fleets in the region.
Dalmatinski Portal reports that at the end of July 2020, Promet purchased 18 new buses for HRK 44 million, of which 85 percent came from the European ITU mechanism (Integrated Territorial Investments).
The year before, 34 new buses were purchased for HRK 93 million, which the EU entirely financed through the Cohesion Fund.
On the other hand, this year, the beginning of the procurement procedure for about fifty more diesel buses and several electric ones is expected. Studies for applying for EU funds are ready, said Promet.
Mayor Andro Krstulović Opara proudly emphasizes that after that, the average age of Promet's buses will be between three and four years.
In addition to the new buses, the long-awaited e-ticketing system, billing, and traffic monitoring system should be implemented by the end of the year.
Director Miroslav Delic confirms that Promet has taken the issue of purchasing electric buses seriously. Hina said they have already done a great job preparing the documentation and studies they intend to run for European money.
The studies are based on several acceptable electric bus traffic areas, or eco-zones, areas along the strict city center and by the sea.
"We plan to procure more electric buses and the necessary infrastructure related to charging and maintaining buses," he said.
"The prices of electric buses will depend on the offers of the manufacturers, but we can say that the price of such a bus is expressed in hundreds of thousands of euros, without the necessary infrastructure, which means that they are twice or three times more expensive than diesel," Delic said.
Promet almost finished the study according to which electric buses would run through Marjan, the city center from the West Coast through the Marjan tunnel, Gundulićeva Street and Domovinskog rata Street, all the way to the city market, as well as by the sea in Duilovo, Trstenik, and Žnjan.
"We think it should be something that will allow us to get funding. But until the invitation is published, all this is informal," says Delic.
The call will show which study conditions must be met to be eligible. "This is how it works in any procedure for obtaining EU funds, regardless of whether it is electric or diesel buses of the latest generation or gas buses," Delic points out.
The Croatian ministries of economy and transport plan to publish a public call this year.
He finally adds that Promet's plans include preparing documentation for the construction of a new garage, taking into account that all possible types of diesel fuel are represented - hydrogen, gas, electricity, and hybrid combinations.
With its European Climate Pact, the European Commission promotes effective movement opportunities in a healthier and cleaner way. It encourages local and regional authorities to use cohesion funds to move towards green mobility. This, of course, includes the purchase of environmentally friendly buses, primarily electric or hydrogen-powered buses, because they have zero emissions.
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