Clean buses for the public transport network

Summary

Zagreb aimed to introduce energy efficient buses to the city’s fleet to improve the sustainability and quality of the service.

Implementing sustainable mobility

There were 125 urban bus lines running in Zagreb when Zagreb started CIVITAS ELAN implementation; however the majority of the vehicles were inefficient, pollutant, noisy and uncomfortable. Apart from running sub-standard vehicles, there were also capacity problems on some lines. Purchasing new buses contributed to a cleaner fleet but also helped to stimulate a shift towards clean and energy efficient modes by providing more capacity and improving the attractiveness of public transport in Zagreb.

Progress

Seventeen new CNG articulated buses have been introduced in regular circulation, with a total there of 160 clean fuels and energy efficient buses now in circulation: 100 biodiesel and 60 CNG. All the new buses are labelled with CIVITAS ZAGREB co-financed by the EU stickers. The substitution of the existing bus fleet was done gradually over the course of three years. The majority of bus drivers have been trained on safe driving, as well as on how to operate the new buses. Passenger safety was improved with the installation of safety cameras in vehicles.

The public bidding to select an equipment supplier for new filling station was launched, but no final decision was reached and the bidding was cancelled. The tender for public procurement was improved and prepared for new bidding and the quality of service in public transport survey was carried out by the ZFOT with the help of other partners. The survey was made up of more than 40 questions and over 50 sub questions about every aspect of the public transport service and the data processing has been concluded. The measure leader regularly participated in all relevant events such as workshops in elderly homes, mobility workshops, “Wednesdays in tram”, other towns and similar activities.

Outcomes

• All new buses (160 of them) were successfully put in operation.
• The share of biodiesel and natural gas in the total fuel consumption increased to 6.15%. Furthermore, total fuel consumption in 2011 was 11,038,410 kg: o 10,640,966 kg of fuel mixture (regular diesel and biodiesel) with 281,276 kg of biodiesel and 397,444 kg of CNG.
• Total fuel consumption increased by 7.33%. This can be explained by the technical characteristics and the equipment of the new buses. New diesel powered buses have more powerful engines compared with the old buses; they are equipped with air conditioning system, heating system, information system etc. – all of which require more energy in order to operate.
• Average noise level of buses decreased from 74.88 dB in 2007 to 72.8 dB in 2011.
• PM2.5 emissions decreased by 90.9% for tons and almost 59% for kg/vehicle km.
• The level of public satisfaction is considerably increased by all subjective evaluation criterions: vehicle comfort, vehicle quality, interior design, noise level inside vehicle, build quality, vehicle performance and others.