ArmInfo. Yerevan Municipality will acquire 250 18- meter electric buses with assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), as announced by Anneta Babayan, Advisor to the Mayor, during a meeting at Yerevan Municipality.
She stated that, according to preliminary estimates, the program's financial package currently amounts to 98 billion drams, with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 28.8%. "We expect the program to be approved by the government, as it fully complies with investment programs' requirements, including its benefits in terms of climate, environmental, and socio-economic aspects," Babayan noted.
According to her, the funds will be used not only for the purchase of vehicles but also for the construction of two depots for electric transport. Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan added that these electric buses will fully equip Yerevan's public transportation fleet and contribute to mitigating air pollution, as their impact on air quality is estimated to be zero. He also announced that the 250 electric buses will replace the existing HIGER and GAZelle-City buses. The Mayor instructed Babayan to expedite negotiations with her colleagues from the Investment Council so that the project can be discussed at the next meeting.
