As of Saturday, May 31, the first 22 battery-electric buses from Naples’ new zero emission fleet are officially in service. The vehicles, operated by local public transport company ANM (Azienda Napoletana Mobilità), mark a key step in the city’s broader electrification strategy, supported by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

The initial batch includes buses of varying lengths, from 6.85-meter minibuses with 31-passenger capacity to 12.2-meter standard buses accommodating up to 86 passengers. The first are provided by Higer through Italian dealer Sitcar, the second ones are coming from BYD. Also Iveco vehicles have been delivered. This sizing flexibility allows ANM to deploy the vehicles according to the operational needs of different routes across the network.

Electric buses coming to Naples

The fully electric vehicles are equipped with lithium-ion batteries and are charged overnight at the depot.

Eight of the new e-buses have been allocated to routes serving the Carlo III and Via delle Puglie corridors, while six are assigned to services operated from the Cavalleggeri d’Aosta depot. Four routes will transition entirely to electric operation: C78, 654, C65, and 3M. The remaining vehicles will supplement mixed fleets on other lines, including C16, C63, C42, 132, 618, 194, 182, and 151.

The introduction of the new e-buses is part of ANM’s larger effort to transition its fleet toward more environmentally sustainable propulsion systems. Backed by approximately €180 million in PNRR funding awarded to the City of Naples, the project covers the procurement of a total of 253 battery-electric buses (approx. €145 million) and the development of the associated charging infrastructure (approx. €35 million), all to be completed by June 2026.

Upon full implementation, ANM’s urban fleet will consist predominantly of electric vehicles, supplemented by around 100 diesel and 80 methane-powered buses for specific operational needs.

Highlights

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