New electric minibus given a spin in Madeira
On Porto Santo Island, one of the islands of Madeira (Portugal), an electric minibus produced as part of CIVITAS DESTINATIONS has been put through its paces.
From 17-25 August 2019, members of the public were offered rides in the vehicle as part of a drive to promote sustainable and e-mobility in the public transport system.
The initiative was organised by the Regional Agency for Energy and Environment of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (AREAM). The public presentation of the initiative took place on 17 August and was attended by figures including the Vice-President of the Regional Government and representatives of Moinho Rent-a-Car, Porto Santo’s public transport operator.
The vehicle is 5.8m long, can carry around 20 passengers, and is powered by an 88 KWh battery Following a full charge, the bus can travel between 200-250km. Alongside being a zero-emission vehicle, the bus causes very little noise pollution.
The bus was specifically designed to meet the needs of sustainable development in urban centres, historical and tourist areas, and on routes integrating environmentally protected areas.
The initiative was also carried out in cooperation with “Porto Santo Sustentável – Smart Fossil Free Island” and in the context of Porto Santo Island’s application to become a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Read more about the associated CIVITAS DESTINATIONS measure and see all of Madeira’s measures in CIVITAS DESTINATIONS here.
