Goiânia (GO) will become the first city in the world to operate a regular fleet of 100%-electric bi-articulated buses, as a result of a partnership between Volvo and GreenMob Capital. The fleet includes 21 Volvo BZRT buses—16 articulated (with a capacity of approximately 180 passengers) and 5 bi-articulated (with a capacity of about 250 passengers). These zero-emission, ultra-quiet vehicles are slated to serve the BRT Leste‑Oeste corridor within the RMTC system, with initial operations scheduled to begin by late August 2025.
The Volvo BZRT buses are produced at Volvo’s Curitiba plant and feature advanced technology: dual 200 kW motors (totaling 400 kW or ~540 hp), up to 720 kWh of battery capacity (with batteries placed beneath the floor for spacious interiors), and a charging time of 2–4 hours.
Safety features include driver-view cameras, blind‑spot sensors, traffic‑sign detection, and GPS‑based “safety zones” that automatically reduce speed in sensitive areas (e.g. near schools or terminals). At 28 m in length, the bi‑articulated units will be the largest electric vehicles in regular operation worldwide.
Source: Automotive Business Read The Article
PSR Analysis: Goiânia’s initiative is a landmark step in BEV and safe urban transit. Deploying the largest-ever electric buses highlights both environmental leadership and scalable innovation for mid-sized cities. Bi-articulated vehicles drastically boost passenger throughput—up to 250 people per bus—without the cost and infrastructure requirements of rail systems. The integration of safety-driven and comfort-enhancing technologies elevates transit quality. However, success hinges on reliable charging infrastructure, route adaptation, and fleet maintenance readiness. If well managed, this could serve as a model for global BRT systems seeking rapid decarbonization and capacity enhancement. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development, South America, for Power Systems Research
