Abu Dhabi will introduce its first fleet of electric and hydrogen-powered buses next month as part of its initiative to promote green public transport, according to a senior official from the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC)-Abu Dhabi. The announcement was made during the ‘Journey to Net Zero Forum’.
Anan Alamri, the section head at ITC’s Alternative Sustainable Mobility sector, highlighted in a Khaleej Times report that these zero-emission buses are part of Abu Dhabi’s plan to make 20% of its public transport eco-friendly by 2030 and achieve a fully green fleet by 2050.
While the exact number of buses and their specific routes remain undisclosed, Alamri confirmed that the new buses will operate solely within Abu Dhabi, with no changes to the existing bus fares. She also mentioned that charging stations have already been set up at bus depots to support the new fleet.
These buses, unlike their fossil fuel counterparts, do not emit harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases. Hydrogen buses, specifically, release only water vapor, making them a cleaner alternative. Alamri noted that this will be the first time hydrogen buses are introduced for public use in Abu Dhabi. She also shared that young Emirati engineers have been trained in China and South Korea to manage these advanced vehicles.
Previously, during Cop28, ITC-Abu Dhabi launched an all-electric fleet of nine buses to shuttle passengers between Abu Dhabi International Airport and the COP28 venue in Dubai. The electric buses operated around the clock, covering 520 kilometers daily, significantly reducing carbon emissions by 3.7 tonnes per day.