Italy, Campania’s transport authority Acamir launches tender for 31 electric buses (9-meter Class I)

Acamir has launched a €30.4 million framework tender for the supply of 9-meter battery-electric buses for public transport services in Campania, in Southern Italy.

The Campania Regional Agency for Mobility, Infrastructure and Networks (Acamir) has published a tender for the supply of battery-electric buses as part of the Region’s fleet renewal programme. According to Italian trade media and our sister platform Autobusweb, the procedure covers the procurement of Class I electric buses measuring around nine metres in length and is financed through resources allocated under Italy’s National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Mobility (PSNMS) and Ministerial Decree 81/2020.

Acamir is the public body responsible for supporting the Campania Region in transport planning, infrastructure and mobility policies. Within the regional fleet renewal programme, Acamir acts as the contracting authority for vehicle procurement. The buses remain the property of the Campania Region and are subsequently assigned for operation to local public transport companies.

In brief

• Who is managing the tender? Acamir is acting as the contracting authority on behalf of the Campania Region.
• How many electric buses are included? The tender is based on an estimated supply of 31 battery-electric buses under a framework agreement.
• What range is required? The buses must offer a minimum operating range of 375 km.
• How are the vehicles funded? The procurement is financed through DM 81/2020 within Italy’s National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Mobility.

€30.4 million framework agreement for electric buses

The tender documentation specifies a contract value of €17,882,322 as the basis for the award procedure, corresponding to an estimated supply of 31 battery-electric buses. The quantity is indicative rather than guaranteed, as the procurement is structured through a framework agreement.

The procurement also requires bidders to submit an optional proposal for a Full Service maintenance package, which may be activated later by the public transport operators receiving the vehicles. The contract will be awarded according to the most economically advantageous tender based on the best quality-to-price ratio.

Technical specifications for the battery-electric buses

The tender covers M3 Class I battery-electric buses with an overall length between 8.9 and 9.4 metres. The vehicles must feature a fully low-floor layout and overnight charging capability.

Among the technical requirements included in the tender documents are a minimum driving range of 375 km, capacity for at least 55 passengers, two passenger doors, kneeling function, wheelchair access ramp, regenerative braking and a design life of at least 16 years.

The specifications also state that battery replacement should not be required before eight years or 480,000 km of operation. The tender identifies as an award criterion the manufacturer’s willingness to bear the cost of battery replacement should battery degradation occur between the eighth and tenth year of service.

The electric bus procurement is accompanied by a separate ACaMIR tender for Class II diesel buses intended for regional interurban services. The two procedures have been launched independently but both form part of the same Campania regional fleet renewal programme financed under DM 81/2020 and the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Mobility.