The French city of Orléans intends to procure 180 electric buses as part of its plan to implement a fully electric public transport system by 2024. The first 29 electric buses made by Spain’s Irizar are to go into operation in the first half of 2021.

As reported in the autumn of 2018, the public transport operator Keolis has been awarded the contract for the new public transport system for Orléans and the surrounding municipalities (known as Orléans Métropole). The Orléans Métropole tendering committee chose an electric bus model at a meeting on 19 December. With the number of 180 electric buses, the investment volume amounts to up to 110 million euros, as reported by Sustainable Bus.

However, several tests are currently underway before the order is officially signed. But there is one favourite: “The Spanish company Irizar is being considered”, as stated in a communication from Orléans Métropole.

The decision in favour of Irizar is not surprising, as the Spanish company is already supplying the electric buses for France’s first electric express bus connection in Amiens. Keolis is also the operator of the bus fleet there. Keolis also uses ten electric articulated buses from Irizar on the zero-emissions bus line between Bayonne and Biarritz in the southwest of France. In the Netherlands and Norway, however, the public transport company has placed major orders for electric buses with other bus manufacturers.

In Orléans, it is not yet known which Irizar model will be used. The Spanish only recently presented the new generation of the ie series in November. However, based on the requirements of Orléans (12 metres in length, 90 passengers with 30 seats), it seems that the 12-metre version of the Irizar, ie is the best choice. According to the manufacturer, the range has been increased to 250 kilometres, which corresponds to 17 hours of operation. The charging technology of the buses is variable, and the charging power can vary between 50 and 600 kW. A pantograph for quick charging en route is available on request, and the charging socket for the CCS plug can be mounted in five different positions as required.

sustainable-bus.com, larep.fr (French), orleans-metropole.fr (French)