In response to growing environmental demands and urban mobility challenges, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) has taken a step forward by testing its first electric minibus in real conditions during August 2023.
The transformation to electric mobility has been a steadily growing trend in recent years in the world’s cities.
In this evolution, electric buses have played a crucial role and Barcelona has been no exception. Until now, however, electric minibuses have been relegated to the background.
In fact, electric mobility in Barcelona is not a new concept. The city has already incorporated a fleet of electric buses into its public transport network, which has contributed to reduced emissions and improved air quality on the city’s busy streets.
However, until now, minibuses, which play a crucial role in TMB’s neighborhood lines, have not received attention in the context of electrification.
The challenge of TMB’s electric minibus
Electric minibuses present unique challenges compared to their larger counterparts. One of the biggest obstacles has been limited space to house the batteries that power the vehicle.
Unlike larger buses, minibuses have limited capacity to accommodate batteries in their structure.
Tests under real conditions
To address these challenges and assess the feasibility of electric minibuses in the TMB fleet, the testing phase of the company’s first electric minibus has been launched.
These tests are being carried out in real conditions, confronting the minibus with steep slopes and intensive use of the air conditioning, which represents high electricity consumption.
The objective is to test the minibus’ ability to operate under conditions of high stress and limited autonomy, crucial features for neighborhood lines operating with only one vehicle assigned to the route.
The electric minibus, manufactured by the Catalan company Indcar in collaboration with the electric vehicle manufacturer Bluebus, has features that make it suitable for the Barcelona context.
With a capacity for up to 26 people, the minibus offers a comfortable and functional space, ideal for use in neighborhood lines serving regular residents. In addition, the vehicle has been designed to cope with the steep grades and tricky turns that characterize many city minibus routes.
Testing of the electric minibus this summer will be crucial to determine its viability and its contribution to reducing emissions and improving economic efficiency in the TMB fleet.
