Riga rolls out electric bus fleet in freezing conditions

35 electric buses began entering regular service in Latvia's capital, Riga, in December 2023. However, it's a gradual roll-out preceded by a series of test drives through wintry Riga and technical checks.

Public transport operator Rigas Satiksme ordered the zero-emission buses from Polish manufacturer Solaris to be used on routes 26, 33, and 57 and 9, 20, and 26 on weekends.

The electric buses have been operating in Riga since the end of the year, albeit for test purposes. As it is currently quite cold in Latvia, the impact of the heating on the battery is being recorded, according to local media reports.

At the end of 2022, Rigas reportedly awarded Solaris the contract to supply up to 52 e-buses to Riga. The companies had already signed a binding order for 35 units then. The Urbino 12 Electric buses are equipped with two batteries with 140 kWh each. According to Solaris, at the time of the order, the buses are charged via a plug-in connection and a reverse pantograph.

The e-buses offer space for at least 72 passengers and a “built-in alcohol immobiliser to check the driver’s sobriety before starting the engine”. The driver’s cab is enclosed and equipped with seat heating.

According to the city of Riga, the cost of the e-buses is 19.18 million euros. The European Union’s Cohesion Fund subsidises this with around 16 million euros.

labsoflatvia.com, lsm.lv, riga.lv