Gozo's route buses are 100% electric after €11m investment
Bus charging depot set up at the Park and Ride facility at Ta’ Xħajma
Gozo's route bus service has become fully electric following an €11 million investment by Malta Public Transport and the government.
New buses were commissioned on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by company and Transport Malta officials and Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri. The ceremony took place at a new electric bus charging depot forming part of the Multi-Modal Hub and Park and Ride facility at Ta’ Xħajma.
Camilleri said the milestone reflects a significant shift towards environmentally friendly transport on the island. The all-electric fleet is supported by a charging infrastructure that allows the buses to recharge overnight.
The transition is expected to deliver lower emissions, improved air quality in villages, quieter streets, and a better quality of life for both residents and visitors.
Transport Malta CEO Kurt Farrugia said the electrification of Gozo’s bus fleet sends a strong message that sustainability and progress go hand in hand. He noted that innovation is no longer a distant ambition but is being implemented in practical and visible ways.
The minister also announced that from Sunday, bus routes 302 and 303 will begin serving the Ta’ Xħajma hub on their journeys to and from Victoria. With both routes operating hourly, the hub will benefit from two services per hour linking it to the capital. These routes also serve Nadur, Ramla, Xewkija, Għajnsielem and Qala, allowing commuters to park their vehicles and continue their journey by public transport.
Malta Public Transport Chairman Felipe Cosmen said the transition to a fully electric bus service represents a significant step forward in Gozo’s sustainability journey, while reaffirming the company’s commitment to improving the public transport experience.
Malta Public Transport in a statement last week said it had made a €14 million investment in 40 new fully electric buses, more than doubling the number of electric route buses.
The new vehicles consist of 13 electric six-metre minibuses, 19 electric nine-metre buses and eight electric 12-metre buses. The smaller buses will primarily serve village cores and residential areas, providing a more agile and environmentally friendly transport solution within urban centres, while the larger vehicles will operate across the wider route network.