Akershus to postpone introduction of electric buses until after 2028 – Greater Oslo

In Oslo, almost all buses are already electric.

In Akershus, the goal is for all bus transport to be emission-free by 2028.

Now the Capital District Council wants to postpone electrification.

The winter bus chaos is terrifying.

– Ensure public transport system that citizens and commuters can trust. Electric buses have been a bit of a challenge there, says Hekon Snortheim, county councilor for transport in Akershus (H).

In the Capital Region, delays and cancellations have affected tens of thousands of commuters this winter. This was especially true in Oslo, but also in Akershus.

Problems with charging and the range of electric buses were worse than expected.

A deferment of one to two years can be obtained

Rutter has started new bus contract work in Akarshus.

Current contracts with bus operators Romerike and Asker expire in 2027 and 2028.

New long-term contracts will require zero emissions.

But now Akershus will ask Rutter to consider postponing the contracts and extend the current deal instead.

– What we are open to is that router contracts can be extended for one or two years, depending on which contract applies, says Håkon Snortheim.

If so, this means continuing to run diesel buses.

The district council cannot rule out that the introduction of zero-emission buses could be postponed further, but says he now sees no reason to do so.

Climate targets cost more

The issue is also about money.

Rutter told the Akershus County Council that the new contracts will be more expensive than expected.

The reason is precisely the climatic requirements.

According to the county, maintaining the goal of zero-emission public transport means increasing spending by NOK 200 million in the period 2027-30. Then NOK 35 million per year.

A proposal to adjourn is inconsistent with the router's goals. Akershus owns the router along with Oslo.

But it also goes in the opposite direction to the county council's own declaration after they won the election last autumn.

Snortheim does not want to say that the county council in Akershus is now looking backwards into the future.

– No, the most important thing we ensure is that citizens have confidence in the bus, says Snortheim, “that's the most important climate policy we can follow.”