Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has commenced the trial run of a new electric bus on Route F13, which serves as a feeder line to metro stations.
The route begins at Al Quoz Bus Depot and travels through key locations such as Burj Khalifa, The Palace Downtown Hotel, and Dubai Fountain, concluding at the Dubai Mall Metro Bus Stop (South).
The electric bus incorporates advanced features, including high-definition cameras and display systems in place of conventional mirrors, as well as a transparent head-up display that projects key driving information onto the windscreen to enhance driver visibility. Several other intelligent systems are also embedded.
Electric Bus Trial Launched on Dubai’s Streets
The RTA has confirmed that this pilot is aligned with its strategy to deploy innovative, environmentally friendly public transport solutions. The goal is to convert the entire public transport network in Dubai into zero-emission systems by 2050.
Specifically designed for Dubai’s climate, the electric bus is equipped with a high-capacity air-conditioning unit and batteries that hold 470 kWh—making it the highest-capacity electric bus trialled by the RTA to date. The vehicle can cover up to 370 kilometres on a single charge.
Marwan Al Zarooni, Director of Buses at the RTA’s Public Transport Agency, stated that the Volvo-manufactured bus’s integrated technologies will allow teams to gather insights to refine future specifications, improving performance and safety.
He added that the trial will evaluate the bus’s environmental advantages and operational performance on a busy route under real-world conditions.
The pilot will help measure emissions reduction, practical driving range, and performance under Dubai’s varying weather—particularly in summer.
