Bogotá is putting the first 50 electric articulated buses into service

Bogotá is now electrifying its articulated bus fleet as well: 50 new electric articulated buses are being added to the TransMilenio system. By 2029, the Colombian capital plans to integrate another 900 electric buses in total.

According to the city, these 50 new buses are Colombia’s first electric articulated buses. They can accommodate up to 160 passengers and have doors on both sides, allowing them to serve both the stations and lanes of the TransMilenio network as well as regular roads and stops. Media reports indicate that the introduction will be phased out, with plans to link it to the expansion of the corridor along Avenida Ciudad de Cali.

The vehicles were supplied by the operators Masivo Capital and ETIB. The bodies are manufactured in Colombia: 25 units were produced by Busscar in Pereira, and another 25 by Marcopolo in Cota. The equipment includes cameras, blind spot monitoring, real-time telematics, digital mirrors, WLAN, and USB ports. In addition, there are spaces for wheelchairs and strollers, as well as aids for people with limited mobility when boarding.

The new articulated buses are part of a larger electrification program. Between 2026 and 2029, Bogotá plans to integrate a total of 900 new electric buses into its public transportation system. Of these, 631 vehicles are intended to replace older buses. An additional 269 electric articulated buses are scheduled for a later phase of expansion to extend the TransMilenio network toward Soacha. With the 97 electric minibuses and standard buses already added earlier, this latest procurement round brings the total to 147 vehicles for now. Once all 900 planned electric buses are in service, they are expected to prevent approximately 57,500 tons of CO₂ per year, according to TransMilenio’s calculations.

Bogotá is following a broader trend in Latin America: the region now has over 10,000 electric buses in operation. Santiago de Chile leads in this regard, with 4,222 electric buses as of recent figures. São Paulo is also significantly expanding its fleet, adding 500 more battery-electric buses in June. This brought the city’s electric bus fleet, including 189 overhead wire buses, to a total of 1,759 vehicles.