On Environment Week, one of the programs that the São Paulo City Hall has mentioned as a highlight of its administration is the expansion of the city's electric bus fleet. This increase is indeed occurring, but at a slower pace than promised in campaigns.
In a leaflet being distributed to promote sustainable actions in June, the Ricardo Nunes administration says that battery-powered vehicles now number 1,259, representing 10.3% of the fleet.
— Each electric bus we put on the road saves 35,000 liters of diesel per year, which represents 6,400 trees per year — said the mayor at one of the vehicle delivery events, referring to the amount of CO2 that this vegetation would be absorbing instead of emitting.
The city hall also claims to be avoiding greenhouse gas emissions by using 250 solid waste collection trucks and transshipment trailers powered by biomethane. Because it has organic origin, this gas is considered a renewable fuel.
"The Municipal Secretariat of Urban Mobility and Transportation (SMT) and SPTrans highlight that the city operates the largest fleet of electric buses in Brazil," the public agency said in a statement. "The Goals Plan foresees replacing 2,200 diesel-powered buses with clean energy models by the end of this administration."
Despite the results the city hall has to show regarding the expansion, the announced goal is a repetition of the previous administration's goal, which was not met. The promise was part of the administration started by then-Mayor Bruno Covas, who died in 2021, giving place to his deputy.
Recently, Nunes mentioned in a speech that the automotive industry is struggling to meet the demand for new electric vehicles. Additionally, he accused Enel, the concessionaire that distributes energy in Greater São Paulo, of delaying the installation of charging infrastructure at bus garages.
The company, however, says it is up to date with demand.
"From 2024 to April this year, the distributor delivered 90.8 MW of energy to 35 bus garages, enough to supply at least 2,020 buses," it said in a statement. "In the last 12 months, the maximum utilization of the garages in relation to the total installed power did not reach 50%, and in May it was only 46%. The company reiterates that it has met all the electrical infrastructure demand planned and demanded by bus operators in the city of São Paulo."
