Abu Dhabi is set to introduce electric and hydrogen-powered buses next month, marking a significant step in its green transportation initiative. This move is part of the city’s goal to make 20 percent of its public transport environmentally friendly by 2030 and achieve 100 percent by 2050.
Anan Alamri from the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) announced the new buses during “The Journey to Net Zero Forum” organized by Khaleej Times. She mentioned that these zero-emission buses would operate solely within Abu Dhabi. While the exact number of buses and routes are not yet disclosed, Alamri confirmed that the fare for riding these buses will remain unchanged. Additionally, charging stations are already set up at bus depots.
Unlike conventional buses that run on fossil fuels, the new electric and hydrogen buses produce no harmful emissions. Hydrogen buses only emit water vapor, making them extremely eco-friendly.
This deployment will be the first time hydrogen buses are available to the public in Abu Dhabi. To prepare for this, young Emirati engineers were sent to China and South Korea to learn about operating and maintaining these buses.
Last December, during COP28, ITC-Abu Dhabi launched a fleet of nine all-electric buses to transport passengers between Abu Dhabi International Airport and the COP28 venue in Dubai. This was the first instance of electric buses being used for intercity travel between emirates. The service, which ran 24 hours a day, covered 520 kilometers daily and cut carbon emissions by 3.7 tonnes per day.
