The city of Nantes electrifies its bus fleet

The call for tenders from Nantes Métropole has awarded the contract for the acquisition of new battery electric buses to the manufacturer Iveco.

After renewing its tramway a few weeks ago, the Nantes metropolis is focusing on its buses. And one question arises: is it possible today to renew a fleet of public transport buses when they reach the end of their life without shifting to electric? Announcements keep coming, each time with the abandonment of diesel and hybrid drivetrains. Energy costs, pollution, operational silence, electric buses offer many advantages in the city.

Thus, Nantes Métropole has signed a purchase order for 70 new electric buses with a budget of 62 million euros excluding tax. The manufacturer that won the bid is Iveco France, a location detail that makes all the difference. Indeed, the selected bus models will be the GX 337 ELEC (12 meters) and GX 437 ELEC (18 meters) from the brand Heuliez.

These 70 buses will be produced 100 kilometers from Nantes, in the Heuliez factory in Rorthais, in the Deux-Sèvres.

A true energy transition

The thirty “short” buses will be put into service by the end of 2025, while the “long” articulated buses – or accordion buses – will arrive during the year 2027. This staggered delivery timeline should help maintenance centers adapt to these new electric technologies, particularly the installation of high-speed charging stations. Staff training will also need to be conducted over the coming year.

As a reminder, urban buses have relatively low capacity batteries compared to their size. The Heuliez GX ELEC thus has a battery of 69.3 kWh, but recharges of a few minutes at the end of each route are enough to recover the necessary energy. The power of the electric motor ranges from 310 kW (422 horsepower) and 3000 Nm to 375 kW (510 horsepower) and 4000 Nm depending on the length of the bus.

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