Palma receives 23 new blue electric buses – quieter traffic, more connections

Palma receives 23 new blue electric buses – quieter traffic, more connections

Nine vehicles already in service, more to follow as part of a comprehensive fleet renewal plan

In the early morning, when on Passeig Mallorca the pizza bakers pull their first doughs from the oven and in front of the café at Plaça d’Espanya the first commuters check their tickets at the machine, new buses now roll through the city. There are 23 brand-new electric buses, twelve metres long, in a deep blue – nine of them are already running on the streets and have finally switched off the familiar rattle of old diesel engines.

The vehicles strengthen numerous routes of the city's transport company EMT: among others the lines 1, 6, 10, 14, 16, 20, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 39 and 40. The aim is to increase bus availability and improve coverage especially at peak times. Passengers report quieter boarding and less vibration on acceleration – small everyday conveniences that add up, yet traffic remains complicated, as discussed in More buses, same jams: Palma's traffic stuck in a dilemma.

These 23 buses are part of a first delivery of 68 vehicles ordered under a framework contract. Up to 113 electric buses are planned in total. According to available information, investments of up to 92.95 million euros are planned for the project; the unit price is around 573,000 euros. The project is financed in part through the Balearic Energy Transition Investment Plan (PITEIB) under the Recovery Program NextGenerationEU, by funds from the sustainable tourism tax (ITS), by municipal contributions and EMT's own funds. This aligns with the city's broader plans described in Palma plans major shift in public transport: 57 e-buses and new depot in Son Rossinyol.

Mayor Jaime Martínez and Mobility Councillor Antonio Deudero accompanied the presentation of the new vehicles; the Balearic Minister of Tourism Jaime Bauzá was also present. Representatives of bus interest groups, who informally call themselves 'Bus Stoppers', stopped by – for some regular passengers the buses' fittings evoke memories of earlier times: the blue paint refers to the company's beginnings when it had a different name.

Technical details are important for operations, but the change is also audible and tangible in everyday life. On Avinguda de Jaume III, where delivery vans and taxi drivers are normally loud, the new buses stand out for their restrained soundscape. People walking their dogs or sitting on a bench nod appreciatively when a bus stops silently at the stop. Drivers report a different driving feel when accelerating and less maintenance effort during routine checks.

The purchase is part of a larger package: measures such as the introduction of a unified ticket for train, metro, TIB and EMT and the possibility to pay on buses with a bank card have already been implemented, as set out in Palma's Budget 2026: More Police, E‑Buses — But Is That Enough for the City of Tomorrow?. The overall project also envisages investments of almost 100 million euros to renew the fleet and build an Eco-EMT centre. If planning and implementation proceed in step, more routes could be served in the coming years by noticeably quieter and low-emission vehicles.

What's missing in the public conversation? People hear a lot about sums and numbers, less about timetables, charging infrastructure and the working conditions of drivers when the fleet is electrified. In practice, this means: more charging stations in depots, adjustments to shifts and clear communication so that passengers know when which lines will be strengthened.

A small look ahead: anyone passing the weekly market on the Rambla may soon see a blue rear end more often between the orange stalls. The new fleet is not a cure-all, but it makes Palma quieter, a little cleaner and connects neighborhoods where mobility has so far been more arduous. That's a piece of quality of life you notice immediately – when boarding, when it passes by and when talking to the bus driver who now has to explain less engine noise.

Practically: those who regularly use the mentioned lines should keep an eye on timetables in the coming weeks; EMT will gradually deploy more of the new vehicles, as it did when More Buses for the School Start: Palma Eases Morning Traffic. For the city this means a visible step towards a more modern, electrified transport solution – and for the people on the island a bit more peaceful everyday life.