By January 2025, Rome will add 60 Mercedes-Benz eCitaro electric buses to its public transport network, primarily serving the car-dependent outer suburbs. The first ten buses are set to begin operation this month, with an additional ten expected in October 2024, and the remaining 40 by early 2025.
The electric buses, operated by Autoservizi Troiani, will serve areas previously lacking sufficient public transport options. At the inauguration, Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri emphasized the significance of these buses for the city’s outer suburbs, noting they are “the first electric buses to service the outer suburbs of Rome” and provide an alternative to car dependency.
Autoservizi Troiani has already begun operating in 70% of its designated routes for underserved areas and plans to reach full operation by October 22, 2024, when more electric buses are integrated into the fleet.
The 12-meter-long eCitaro buses are equipped with three doors, low-floor access, and ramps for disabled passengers. With a battery range of 300 kilometers, the buses also feature advanced safety systems, including front assist for obstacle detection and turn assist for side obstacle detection.
Rome’s transition to electric buses extends beyond the suburbs. Mayor Gualtieri noted that by December 2024, the city will also receive the first 110 of the 411 electric buses ordered from Italian manufacturer Iveco for Atac, Rome’s main public transport operator. “The new e-Citaro buses are ‘first-class,’ with innovative equipment in terms of comfort and road safety,” he said, adding that the plan includes expanding electric bus routes to the western suburbs in the future.
