Arriva Italia presented 5 new electric buses in Brescia and inaugurated a methane refuelling station

Brescia, April 7, 2025 – Arriva Italia, a leading company in the public transport sector, today presented five new next-generation electric buses at its depot in Brescia, which will enhance the urban and suburban fleet. Their introduction marks an important step towards a more sustainable mobility for the benefit of the environment and citizens.

During the morning, the five new K9UD vehicles by BYD were unveiled: two recently introduced into the fleet and three that will enter service shortly. These are 12.2-meter buses with around 80 seats, a range of up to 400 kilometers, and updated to the highest standards of energy efficiency, comfort, and sustainability. The new buses, purchased with the help of funds made available by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), will lead to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions and contribute to improving air quality in the cities. By 2026, it is expected that 14 additional electric buses and 40 low-emission buses will be registered in Brescia, representing an investment of over 40 million euros from 2025 to 2028.

In addition to the new electric buses, the new refueling station for Greenture’s methane vehicles (a subsidiary of Snam) was also presented, serving the Brescia depot and the 110 methane-powered vehicles operating in Brescia and the surrounding province. The new station can fill up a vehicle in less than 20 minutes and refuel up to four buses simultaneously, with two dedicated and specially trained operators. This infrastructure is a crucial step in integrating new technologies into the company’s fleet for increasingly sustainable public transport. Once connected to the distribution network, the station will allow vehicles to be powered solely by biomethane, further reducing environmental impact.

The event was attended by Franco Lucente, Transport and Sustainable Mobility Councillor of the Lombardy Region; Fabio Rolfi, Vice President of the Province of Brescia with responsibility for public transport; Federico Manzoni, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Mobility, Assets, and Institutional Services of the Municipality of Brescia; and Pietro Gussalli Beretta, President of Confindustria Brescia, who, together with Angelo Costa, CEO of Arriva Italia, had the opportunity to closely inspect the new buses and learn about the use of the methane refueling infrastructure.

Arriva Italia’s initiative demonstrates the company’s concrete commitment to adopting solutions that promote more sustainable mobility, not only in compliance with environmental regulations but also to improve the quality of life in the cities and regions where it operates. Of the 435 vehicles in service in Brescia, 64% are Euro 6, 25% are CNG-powered, and 5% are mild hybrid vehicles. The average age of the fleet is about 8 years, with 141 buses registered after 2022.

“We are proud to present these new electric buses, a tangible demonstration of our commitment to more sustainable mobility and investments in the continuous renewal of the Brescia fleet and the service provided to the region,” said Angelo Costa, Managing Director of Arriva Italia. “The adoption of these new technologies allows us to offer an increasingly efficient, comfortable, and environmentally friendly service, in line with international trends in the sector. The new vehicles and various alternative charging systems, such as the methane distribution station and electric vehicle charging stations, are complemented by other important technological innovations, such as electronic ticketing. We will continue to work hard to ensure sustainable mobility for the community, always keeping up with innovations in the sector.”