Volvo Buses wins UITP Award for Climate and Health

On February 6, Volvo Buses was honored with the UITP Award for Climate and Health. Volvo is responsible for the electrification of bus traffic in the Swedish university city of Gothenburg.

The awards, presented annually by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), showcase the most innovative public transport projects of the past two years in cities and regions around the world.

“We are very pleased that our electromobility project in Gothenburg has received this important award,” says Ulf Magnusson, SVP Europe at Volvo Buses. “Electrifying 35% of a city bus fleet overnight requires extensive planning, close cooperation, and expertise. The project is part of our ongoing commitment to quiet, clean, and sustainable public transport that helps create Zero Cities all over the world.”

The project in Gothenburg involved providing 145 Volvo 7900 electric articulated buses along with the appropriate charging infrastructure. A close partnership with the local transport authority Västtrafik and the bus operator Transdev was vital for the project's success. The entire electromobility system and bus fleet were introduced overnight to ensure a seamless transition.

“The UITP Awards recognize the most ambitious and innovative projects from around the world. Volvo Buses and the implementation in Gothenburg exceeded our expectations in all the criteria we had set. We believe the project improves the quality of life in urban areas by promoting public transport and positioning it as the backbone of urban and local mobility,” says UITP Secretary General Mohamed Mezghani.

Significantly Cleaner Air in Gothenburg

According to information from Volvo Buses, the environmental benefits are significant. Calculations showed that CO₂ emissions in urban traffic could be reduced by 10% compared to the replaced vehicles, which were already operating on renewable fuels. Nitrogen oxide emissions were almost halved, and particulate emissions decreased by nearly 20%.

What Does This Mean?

Every little bit helps: In this case, just the switch to electric buses in Gothenburg brought measurable benefits in CO2 emissions.