Brasil, São Paulo reaches 1,000 electric buses thanks to a 60-units Eletra delivery

With the delivery of 60 new battery-electric vehicles, São Paulo has surpassed the mark of 1,000 zero-emission buses in its municipal fleet. The expansion brings the total to 1,009 electric vehicles, including 820 battery-electric vehicles and 189 trolleybuses. According to the municipality, the transition from diesel will prevent the consumption of approximately 35 million litres of fuel each year.

The announcement, made at Pacaembu Stadium on 3 November, opens a week-long programme focused on sustainability and innovation in the run-up to COP30, the UN Climate Conference to be held in Belém later this month. São Paulo aims to highlight the practical measures already implemented to decarbonise urban transport and modernise its public-transport infrastructure.

São Paulo’s Transit Agency SPTrans (over 13,000 buses) has banned the procurement of new diesel buses already in 2022.

Eletra electric buses for São Paulo

As reported by local trade media Diário do Transporte, the 1,000th electric bus is a 15-metre model manufactured by Eletra Industrial, a Brazilian company specializing in electric mobility solutions with 100% national capital. Built on a Scania platform with WEG motors and batteries and a Caio body, the vehicle will be operated by Transpass on routes connecting the western districts of São Paulo to the city centre.

As of end September 2025, according to the figures from E-Bus Radar, backed by ZEBRA alliance, the city had 960 electric buses in operation, with local company Eletra covering a 69% share with 655 vehicles.

Beyond emission reductions, the vehicles introduce upgraded passenger amenities, including air-conditioning, USB charging ports, onboard Wi-Fi, and integration with SmartSampa, the city’s real-time monitoring network — currently the largest urban transport surveillance system in Latin America, with 35 vehicles already connected to the municipal security hub, the São Paulo Municipal Government says.

A central feature of the rollout is the introduction of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) within operating depots. The system stores electricity during low-demand hours and supplies it to chargers during peak times, acting as a large-scale buffer to stabilise grid load.

The municipality considers BESS a national-scale innovation capable of addressing one of the main barriers to electric bus adoption: reliable and cost-efficient charging infrastructure. Funding for the programme — amounting to approximately €1.1 billion (R$ 6 billion) — comes through a combination of municipal investment and credit lines from BNDES and Banco do Brasil, under the 2025–2028 Goals Programme.

“Today is a day of great joy for the city of São Paulo, but also for Brazil, because what happens here ends up reverberating across the entire country. This delivery represents better air quality, a healthier environment, and a significant advance — more than R$ 2.5 billion in investments.”, states Ricardo Nunes, Mayor of São Paulo. He adds: “We found a national solution for battery charging. Today we have guaranteed energy, buses being built in Brazil, and R$ 6 billion raised to expand the fleet. Now São Paulo can truly accelerate this clean transition“.

“The Eletra is the main supplier of electric buses for São Paulo, leading the market. The 1,000th vehicle shows that the capital is at the forefront of transport and highlights the operators’ preference for national technology,” said Milena Braga Romano, president of Eletra.

“We offer the widest range of electric buses in Brazil, from midis to super-articulated models. We are not just manufacturers. We assist public managers and operators in implementing electric bus systems through Eletra Consult — a consultancy that covers everything from garage preparation and financing to driver and mechanic training and after-sales support,” added Ieda Oliveira, Eletra’s commercial director.