Romania’s capital might get a little greener as the Bucharest Public Transport Company RATB started testing the first electric bus on Monday, March 16.

The bus will run on line 104, between Cora Pantelimon in eastern Bucharest and Opera Square close to the center. RATB will test the bus for two weeks.

Czech company SOR Libchavy makes the electric bus, which is called SOR EBN 10.5. It has a capacity of 85 seats, its battery charges in 7-8 hours and has a maximum autonomy of 250 km.

“Given the current economic context, in which the energy crisis deepens, and pollution and global warming are top priorities for us all, using electric vehicles can be a viable solution to these problems. That is why Bucharest Municipality considers this is a good moment to start testing a new solution for public transport in the capital,” reads RATB’s statement.

The bus is part of a wider program conducted by Bucharest City Hall and RATB, which includes testing several such electric buses.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: sor.cz)