OREANDA-NEWS. Maxim Liksutov, the head of the transport department of Moscow, said to journalists that the capital of Russia had become a European leader in the number of electric buses on urban routes.

“Moscow electric bus is one of the most reliable and technologically equipped in the world,” the official said. “This is our pride," he added.

Liksutov also reported that the electric buses are more profitable than the trolley buses. “Today, if we compare a trolley bus and an electric bus, we can say right now from the fact of work since September of the previous year that Moscow Urban Transport Office’s expenses have decreased by 11 %,” he said. The transport manager also noted that the electric buses were more reliable by 20 % in comparison with the trolley buses.

According to Liksutov, by the end of the 2019 another 300 electric buses will enter the Moscow traffic. Beginning from 2021 the number of new vehicles will be 600–800 per year.

The first regular route of the passenger electric bus was launched in Moscow on September 1, 2018. It began going along the way of one of existing trolley bus routes.

Last fall, Moscow transport deputy mayor Maxim Liksutov promised that the capital of Russia would be completely provided with electric public transport in 12–13 years, and the time of traditional diesel buses would end.

In January 2019, the number of electric bus routes in Moscow increased to five, and Moscow has become a leader in the number of electric buses among European cities. Every day 45–50 thousand Muscovites use new ecological mode of transportation.