Rio de Janeiro procures 175 battery-electric buses
Rio de Janeiro is investing the equivalent of approximately US$98 million in 175 electric buses and a new charging depot. The vehicles are scheduled to enter the city's public transport system in the second half of 2027 and will fully electrify bus operations at the Terminal Gentileza.
The e-Volksbus is already being produced and delivered in Brazil.
Image: Roberto Marinho
According to media reports, the Brazilian metropolis of Rio de Janeiro has announced a project worth 509 million Real. The funding will cover 175 battery-electric buses and the associated charging infrastructure, equivalent to approx. €86 million euros.
A significant portion of the financing comes from the Brazilian development bank BNDES. Through its climate fund, Fundo Clima, it is providing 329 million Real, or around $63.5 million. The concessionaire will invest a further 141.2 million Real, while the city will contribute 38.8 million Real. The BNDES funds are explicitly earmarked for the procurement of the electric buses.
According to the municipality, this represents Brazil’s first public-private partnership to specifically focus on electric buses. The contract spans 16 years: one year for implementation and 15 years for operation. The private partner will be responsible for procuring some of the vehicles, installing the charging infrastructure, and constructing the new depot. It will also handle the operation and maintenance of the facilities.
All 175 electric buses will be stationed at a new public depot in the Maré district. The site covers approximately 41,000 square metres, with around 23,000 square metres dedicated to e-bus operations. Plans include parking and maintenance areas, administrative and storage spaces, as well as the necessary charging infrastructure.
Rio builds new charging depot in Maré
The vehicles will primarily be charged overnight at the depot. The first electric buses are expected to enter service in the city’s transport network, Sistema RIO, from the second half of 2027. With the 175 vehicles, the city aims to fully electrify the bus fleet operating from the Terminal Gentileza.
The project is being carried out under the name “Elétrico Carioca“. In parallel to electrification, Rio plans to increasingly use lower-emission biofuels for its remaining buses. The city is also pursuing a broader electrification goal: by 2030, zero-emission vehicles are to account for 20 per cent of the municipal bus fleet, equivalent to around 1,000 buses.
The expansion coincides with a growing e-bus market in Brazil. According to _E-Bus Radar_ data, the country currently has 2,216 electric buses in operation, accounting for around 21 per cent of the 10,628 e-buses in Latin America.
At the same time, domestic production is also increasing. Volkswagen Truck & Bus began delivering its Brazil-developed e-Volksbus at the end of 2025. The first batch comprises 100 vehicles, with the initial 50 units going to operator Transppass in São Paulo. The model is produced in Resende, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. BYD also plans to expand its bus production in Brazil.
According to the city, the 175 electric buses could avoid around 199,400 tonnes of CO2 equivalents over the 16-year contract period. Additionally, the municipality expects reduced local pollutant and noise emissions.