Mosgortrans operate the largest electric bus fleet in Europe ahead of London's fleet.[1] There are over 2,100 electric buses operating in Moscow.[2][3] As of January 2024[update], they have carried over 400 million passengers.[4] As of July 2024, electric buses serve over 130 routes.[5] The fleet consist of over 1700 of KAMAZ-6282 and over 400 of LiAZ-6274. As well as electric minibuses.
The first battery electric bus entered the streets of Moscow in the end of 2018. Under the terms of the contracts, in 2018–2019, domestic manufacturers GAZ and KAMAZ supplied 300 electric buses to Moscow. Another 700 electric buses were delivered to Moscow in 2020 and 2021.[6] Thus, Moscow's electric bus fleet reached 1,000, and became the largest in Europe, in just 3 years.[7] A further 450 to 500 buses were expected to be delivered in 2022.[8] Mosgortrans noted that the entire bus fleet would be zero-emission by 2030, with the use of electric and hydrogen fuel cell powered buses.[7]
Most of the batteries and propulsion equipment for the Moscow electric buses are made by Drive Electro, which has manufactured and supplied components for 600 of the city's electric vehicles.[9] Moscow plans to completely replace all its diesel and CNG buses with electric buses by 2030, and no more diesel buses will be ordered from 2021 onwards.[10]
In 2022, it was announced that KAMAZ hydrogen fuel cell buses would be piloted in the city.[10] In January 2023, Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin noted that around 1,000 additional buses would be delivered by 2024.[11] Between 2018 and 2023, the introduction of electric buses has reduced CO2 emissions by around 130,000 tons.[12] By July 2024, over 1,700 electric buses were in service on around 130 routes.[13][5]
This year, the Moscow transport system also expects 450-500 electric buses
"In 2023–2024, we are to supply about 1,000 electric buses, which is roughly 500 per year. Thus, the electric bus fleet will grow almost two times," the Moscow Mayor says.