- To make this possible, the Endesa X – Dominion joint venture installed three ultra-fast chargers with pantograph charging at the terminal stops on Passeig de Joan de Borbó, in front of the Vela Hotel, and in Josep Garí – Avenida Tibidabo.
- TMB has taken another step forward in the electrification of the bus network and this year will acquire 88 electric buses that will enable it to have a fleet of 232 electric vehicles by 2024.
Barcelona now has the second urban line with 100% electric high-capacity buses, the V15 (Barcelona-Avenida Tibidabo), which represents further progress in electromobility, thus making the capital of Catalonia a benchmark in Spain with regard to the technological and environmental reconversion that is being undertaken in the bus network. To make this possible, Endesa X - Dominion has installed three ultra-fast pantograph charging stations, while Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) continues to increase its fleet of electric vehicles: By 2024 this public transport operator in Catalonia will have 232 electric buses.
The Endesa X - Dominion joint venture has installed the necessary infrastructure to enable vehicles to be able to charge their batteries during service to the optimum level of 90% taking advantage of the regulation stopping time at the end of the route (what they call opportunity charging), which is usually 5 minutes. Specifically, the V15 is now equipped with three ultra-fast chargers that have been located at each end terminal: Two with 500 kW of power on Passeig de Joan de Borbó, in front of the Vela Hotel, and another with 250 kW located on Carrer de Josep Garí and Avinguda de Tibidabo. These two companies will also be responsible for the integral maintenance of the infrastructure, as is already the case with the H16 chargers, which are of the same type and were pioneers in Spain and Europe. The chargers have financing from Europe through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Transport).
Juan Garrigosa, Public Administrations Manager at Endesa X, pointed out that "Endesa X believes that electric public transport is playing a key role in the transformation towards more sustainable cities". Sr Garrigosa added that "we are happy to continue accompanying TMB along this path, which is enabling us to achieve things such as improving air quality in Barcelona and reducing noise pollution".
The Chairperson of TMB, Laia Bonet, explained that with the electrification of the V15 line "we have taken another step towards fully sustainable mobility as an operator committed to the fight against the climate emergency, with a commitment to a fleet of zero-emission buses. Electrification is one of the main axes in the renewal and update of Barcelona's urban buses with regard to the environment", and it is one of the main features of TMB's 2025 Strategic Plan. In this regard, Ms Bonet reaffirmed "TMB's commitment to sustainable mobility", reminding us that "we recently presented the new L3 and L1 trains, which are more sustainable, and we are constantly renewing the bus fleet by incorporating zero-emission vehicles".
TMB specifically launched 16 100% electric articulated vehicles to serve the V15 line.
How are electric buses charged?
Ultra-fast charging by pantograph involves two elements: First, a charger consisting of a pillar approximately five metres high, similar to a lamppost, which is installed at the beginning and end of the line to take advantage of the time the bus stops in order not to affect the route's schedules, and second, a pantograph, which is a retractable mechanical arm located on the roof of the bus that extends and is coupled to the charger to initiate the charge.
At night, when the buses are parked in the garages, and services have been completed, it takes about two or three hours for the vehicles to recover 100% of battery capacity so they are at full capacity at the beginning of the next day. This is why the network of chargers at the depots is also being strengthened. Endesa X - Dominion is currently working on the installation of 37 night charging stations in the Triangle garage, which already has 30 more in service, after having been awarded the public tender. At the Horta depot there are already four chargers in operation and by the summer there will be 24 more units.
Commitment to electric mobility
TMB, Endesa X and DOMINION are strengthening their relationship and their commitment to making Barcelona a more sustainable city, with a clear focus on electric power, green energies and climate change mitigation. The first chargers were already installed by Endesa in 2016 on the H16 bus line and were pioneers in Catalonia, Spain and Europe. Endesa X is also collaborating in the celebrations of the bus network's 100th anniversary, and is working closely with public administrations to assist them in meeting their objectives of decarbonisation, efficiency and sustainability, by developing projects and services for electrified, digitalised and circular cities (e.g. the promotion of electric public transport).
As an operator committed to the fight against the climate emergency and sustainable development, TMB aims to achieve emissions neutrality in its transport networks by 2030. The next steps include the 100% electrification of the H12 bus line.
There are currently 30 100% electric buses in the TMB fleet, all articulated and with fast-charging by pantograph. They serve on the H16 line which has been fully electric since summer 2021, and occasionally on the H6, 7 and 33 lines. To those 30 buses and for those same lines 78 more fully electric vehicles (49 standard and 29 articulated) will be added and they are already on the way. Furthermore, in 2023 they will acquire a total of 88 electric buses (68 standard and 20 articulated), which will arrive between the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024. 36 more electric buses (27 articulated and 9 standard) will be incorporated, which are expected to arrive during 2024 to make a total of 232 electric vehicles.
About Endesa
Endesa is the largest electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. The company is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. Endesa operates an end-to-end generation, distribution and marketing business. Through Endesa X it also offers value-added services aimed at the electrification of energy usage in homes, companies, industries and Public Administrations. It has also created a new line of business. Endesa X Way is fully dedicated to electric mobility. Endesa is firmly committed to the United Nations SDGs and strongly supports the development of renewable energies through Enel Green Power España, the digitalisation of grids through e-distribution, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The Endesa Foundation is also active in CSR-related matters. Our workforce numbers around 9,260 employees. Endesa is a division of Enel, the largest electricity group in Europe.
Endesa X is Endesa's business line dedicated to energy efficiency. Endesa X is a division of Enel X Global Retail and a leader in the development of innovative solutions in support of energy transition. It is aimed at consumers, companies and administrations, providing a modular and integrated offer based on their needs and promoting the electrification of energy uses and digitalisation as motors driving the creation of new value. Endesa X's ecosystem of solutions includes products and services for the optimisation and self-generation of electricity and premium energy efficiency solutions, with the aim of helping customers to create their energy roadmap. Globally, Enel X Global Retail manages demand response services, with 6.7 GW of total capacity. It has installed more than 2.8 million street lighting points worldwide and provides energy services to 62 million residential customers on a daily basis.
About TMB
TMB is the main public transport operator in Catalonia. With more than 8,500 workers, it operates the underground and bus networks in Barcelona and 10 other municipalities with a fleet of 1,140 vehicles. Electrification is the main axis of the plan to renew and environmentally update the urban buses in Barcelona and its metropolitan area, and this is one of the main lines in TMB's Strategic Plan for 2025. Between 2022 and 2025 more than 500 ecological vehicles (electric, CNG and hydrogen) are expected to be incorporated and the necessary infrastructure work will be undertaken to supply them with green energy. The aim is that by the end of 2024 TMB's fleet of standard and articulated vehicles will consist only of electric, hybrid and compressed natural gas buses (currently standing at 70%).
About Dominion
Dominion is a global engineering and multi-technology services and projects company. It operates as a strategic partner providing customers with comprehensive solutions in the fields of industry, technology and telecommunications, energy, infrastructure and the home. Its value proposition is based on maximising the efficiency of business processes through knowledge of the sector and the innovative application of technology with a different approach. Founded in Bilbao in 1999, the company has a unique culture and management model based on four axes: digitalisation, diversification, decentralisation and financial discipline. Dominion operates in more than 35 countries, has more than 1,000 customers and a team of more than 10,000 people. It has a turnover of €1,000 million per year and has been listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange since April 2016.