Rabat Trials First 100% Electric Bus

Rabat – The first 100% electric bus in Rabat was trialed on Friday, in an initial experimental trip.

The trial was put together by the Rabat Anwar Company for Sustainable Transport, in a partnership with Auto Nejma, the exclusive representatives of Mercedes-Benz in Morocco, and Alsa City Bus, the company responsible for running the Moroccan capital’s bus networks.

The integration of electric vehicles into Rabat’s public transport network comes as part of efforts to fulfill the demands of Morocco’s New Development Model, which outlines sustainable and economically viable urban transport solutions, according to a press release by the trial’s organizers.

While impressions from the experimental trip were positive, authorities have said the details of the buses integration have not been finalized yet.

The buses are made by Mercedes-Benz, branded eCitaro as part of the German company’s signature Citaro bus lineup.

The initial experimental trips will allow authorities and drivers to get familiarized with the vehicles and understand any advantages or shortcomings that arise from their use in real life circumstances.

The new buses can strengthen Rabat’s position as a “green city.” The city has many natural green spaces in urban and semi-urban areas, as well as a “green belt” that covers more than 1,000 hectares.

Several Moroccan cities have been working on improving their public transport infrastructures.

The Rabat-Sale tramway Line 2 recently became operational on February 16, liking Yacoub al Mansour in Rabat to areas in Sale – Rabat’s “twin city” – such as Al Karia and Hay Moulay Ismail.

In January, Kenitra launched 138 new made-in-Morocco buses to help alleviate the city’s public transport troubles.

The use of electric vehicles also plays into Morocco’s strategy to improve its environmental impact, as the country is considered a regional and global leader in green energies.

Morocco has been increasingly embracing electric vehicles, with companies like Tesla entering the country with chargers and some manufacturing activities.