Dubai trials high-tech electric bus in drive toward zero emissions

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a trial run of a new electric bus on Route F13, connecting key spots like the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall Metro Station.

The route, which starts from Al Quoz Bus Depot, also passes through The Palace Downtown Hotel and Dubai Fountain, before terminating at the Dubai Mall Metro Bus Stop (South).

The high-tech bus is equipped with smart systems like camera-based mirrors, a transparent head-up display, and top-of-the-line air conditioning tailored for Dubai’s climate.

It features high-capacity batteries with 470 kWh of storage, the largest of any electric bus previously tested in the RTA’s fleet.

The bus can travel up to 370 km on a full charge and carry up to 76 passengers, including 41 seated and 35 standing.

This trial is part of Dubai’s wider plan to make all public transport zero-emission by 2050.

The RTA will use the data collected from this pilot project to assess the bus’s performance, especially in the summer heat, and its impact on reducing carbon emissions.

"The technologies integrated into the new electric bus, manufactured by Volvo, will enable RTA teams to collect data that supports the adoption of new concepts and specifications for future buses—enhancing both performance and safety throughout the journey," said Marwan Al Zarooni, Director of Buses at the RTA’s Public Transport Agency.