EU NEIGHBOURS . The city of Batumi is the first city in Georgia to have electric buses. The new public transport vehicles are in operation starting from today. The energy-efficient and green buses are adapted for people with disabilities, they are equipped with heating, air conditioning, a sound system and video cameras. Each vehicle has 24 seats and is designed for up to 70 passengers.
The electric buses will be charged at their respective bus terminuses, and the charging process takes between 6 and 8 minutes. The vehicles can travel up to 25 kilometres on one charge.
The new buses were purchased by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) through an international tender at the cost of €3.7 million. The Eastern European Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) Fund, whose largest donors are the EU and Sweden, provided Batumi with a grant of €1.5 million, with the remaining amount being a loan from the EBRD.
Photo: Covenant of Mayors East
