The Government’s Green Bus Pilot Project started in Debrecen

The bus will run as part of public transport throughout September and can be used free of charge by the general public.

“The first demonstration project of the Green Bus Program will start in September in Debrecen,” said Péter Kaderják, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Policy, at the handover of the electric bus in Debrecen.

Under the Green Bus Program, the government is spending HUF 36 billion on environmentally friendly vehicles in major cities. The goal is for cities to have public transportation with zero or low emissions. The greening of transport is an essential element of Hungary’s fulfillment of the climate neutrality goal set by the European Union by 2050, the state secretary emphasized.

“We are proud to be the first in Hungary to launch the Green Bus pilot project in Debrecen. In September, the people of Debrecen can try out the electric buses for a month, free of charge. The buses will run on several routes in Debrecen per a schedule,” Deputy Mayor Ákos Balázs said.

Debrecen was at the forefront of the development of environmentally friendly public transport back in 2009, when the city replaced its entire fleet with the most modern EURO 5 buses at that time. This reduced pollutants by 500 tons annually.

“The Government’s efforts to support large cities in the field of sustainability are in line with our new environmental policy announced in the Debrecen 2030 program. We want to develop Debrecen in a sustainable way. We established the Sustainable Debrecen Award, we are bringing water to the city within the framework of the Civaqua program, we are installing green bus-waiting areas, we are building a solar power plant, we planted 10,000 trees, we are creating protection forests on the western side of Debrecen and we continue to modernize our institutions,” the deputy mayor said.

“We have always been open with our strategic partner to offer modes of transport to users that really help this greening, support the environment and thus provide a more livable option for citizens. Last but not least, it creates jobs,” the CEO of ITK Holding Zrt György Kossa stated.