Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has initiated a trial run of a new electric bus on Route F13, which connects significant locations such as the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall Metro Station. This route begins at Al Quoz Bus Depot and also includes stops at The Palace Downtown Hotel and the Dubai Fountain, concluding at the Dubai Mall Metro Bus Stop (South).

The new electric bus is equipped with advanced features, including camera-based mirrors, a transparent head-up display, and state-of-the-art air conditioning designed for Dubai’s hot climate. It boasts high-capacity batteries with a storage capacity of 470 kWh, marking the largest battery size among electric buses previously tested in the RTA’s fleet.

With a full charge, this bus can travel up to 370 km and accommodate 76 passengers, comprising 41 seated and 35 standing. This initiative is part of Dubai’s broader objective to achieve zero-emission public transport by the year 2050. The RTA plans to analyze the data collected during this pilot project to evaluate the bus’s performance in extreme summer temperatures and its potential to reduce carbon emissions.

Marwan Al Zarooni, Director of Buses at the RTA’s Public Transport Agency, stated that the technologies integrated into the electric bus, which is manufactured by Volvo, will allow RTA teams to gather data that supports the implementation of new concepts and specifications for future buses, thereby enhancing overall performance and safety during operations.