Dublin Bus announces completion of charging infrastructure for green fleet

Credit: Dublin Bus

Dublin Bus has announced the completion of charging infrastructure at its Summerhill Depot. This significant milestone in the electrification of public transport in Dublin is part of a phased roll-out plan for battery electric buses.

The state-of-the-art chargers, with the capacity to re-charge 56 battery electric buses, are now fully operational at Summerhill Depot. The depot, along with the upcoming charging infrastructure at Phibsborough Depot set to be completed by the end of December 2023, will serve as hubs for Dublin’s new green fleet. Together, these depots will support a minimum of 136 electric buses, contributing to a cleaner, quieter and more sustainable city environment.

The deployment of electric buses is part of the government’s commitment to reducing emissions and meeting climate targets outlined in the Climate Action Plan and the National Sustainable Mobility Policy Action Plan 2022-2025.

Phibsborough Depot is expected to provide the capacity to re-charge an additional 80 battery electric buses, bringing the total number of electric buses between the two depots to 136. Recent weeks have seen the introduction of new double deck battery-electric buses on specific Dublin Bus routes, such as the 122 and 123, as part of an extensive testing, piloting and training programme for over 360 drivers.

NTA’s initial order of 120 double-deck battery-electric buses in 2022 is now joined by subsequent orders for an additional 221 buses. Of these, 120 will operate in Dublin, bringing the total number either in service or on order to an impressive 341 buses.

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The transition to a zero-emission fleet will be gradual, replacing older diesel-powered buses as they reach the end of their operational life. By 2032, over 85% of Dublin’s bus fleet is expected to be zero-emission, with the remaining minority consisting of low-emission hybrid diesel-electric buses. By 2035, the plan is to phase out hybrid buses entirely, achieving a fully zero-emission fleet.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said: “This change is being driven by electricity as we begin to see the introduction of electric buses on the streets of our capital and then our other cities and towns. This is going to be transformative for our public transport network. It’s going to make our air cleaner and our streets quieter, providing quality and reliable buses for people, and helping us to meet our climate targets for the capital city, and for the country.”

NTA CEO Anne Graham said: “We are all aware of the importance of using more sustainable modes of transport.  The NTA continues to play its part in tackling climate change as we transition our public transport fleet away from fossil fuels to zero emission vehicles on a phased based between now and 2035.”

Dublin Bus CEO Billy Hann said: “These chargers and electric buses signal the first phase in a ground-breaking and ambitious project to electrify our depots and fleet by 2035. We are not just changing our fleet; we are changing the way the city moves. Creating a cleaner, greener, quieter future for Dublin with every journey.”