The Buenos Aires City Government is moving forward with its project to implement a line of electric “trolleybuses” in the city. Through Subways of Buenos Aires S.E. (Sbase), a million-dollar tender was opened to acquire the first twenty electric passenger transport vehicles, capable of carrying up to 120 people per articulated formation.
The route has not been established yet, but the “trolleybus” will operate parallel to the electric “minibuses” whose tender was opened in May and will circulate in the Historic District.
Tender Details and Budget
The procurement package has a budget of just over 50 million dollars for a total of 74 electric vehicles with batteries and their corresponding power chargers, planned to be acquired within a three-year period.
Although the tender is managed by Sbase, it is known that the project is directly led by the Buenos Aires Infrastructure Ministry. This tender process will begin with the purchase of the first twenty vehicles. The opening of the bids is scheduled for December 12th of this year.
Vehicle Features
The tender specifications include the purchase of “brand-new electric vehicles” in two sizes: individual ones, with a capacity for 70 to 85 passengers, and articulated formations, with a capacity for over 120 passengers. Both will have air conditioning and installed batteries.
The vehicles are described as “urban low-floor buses” and have tram-like features, aerodynamic bodywork, safety-maximizing elements, and are also silent.
Future Route and Implementation
The “trolleybus” project is considered an “improvement in mobility” for the city and an “innovative and sustainable alternative”. Although the route has not been defined yet, progress is being made in determining stops, necessary works, and service regulations.
It has been rumored that the first route could connect the terminus station of Subway Line D, Congreso de Tucumán, with the Innovation Park, and another route could link Ciudad Universitaria with Retiro station, crossing the waterfront and stopping at the aeroparque. The tender opened by Sbase is named “Coastal Corridor with Electromobility,” suggesting this latter route.
Additional Projects and Infrastructure Expansion
The tender process for the operation of other electric vehicles, although smaller, was already opened in May. These electric “minibuses” are intended for the Historic District and will have 36 stops between Retiro and Parque Lezama. This service is expected to start operating by mid-next year.
In contrast, the Buenos Aires subway network still lacks expansion projects in sight, although the extension of the Premetro in Villa Lugano and Soldati is being tendered. The last station inaugurated was Retiro of Line E in 2019. There are also tenders for the enhancement of several stations and the purchase of 29 new formations for the complete fleet renovation of Line B.