The Metropolitan Public Transport Board (DTPM) has released a report detailing the cumulative impact of Santiago’s electric buses eight years after their deployment.
In celebration of Earth Day, Santiago’s Metropolitan Public Transport Board (DTPM) unveiled the First Santiago Electromobility Report, a document outlining the cumulative impact of electric buses in the city’s transportation system since their initial deployment eight years ago.
One of the report’s key findings was that electric buses currently account for just 3.3% of total CO₂ emissions from transportation in Santiago, compared to 90% generated by private vehicles and motorcycles.
This positions Chile’s capital as one of the cities with the highest level of electric public transportation adoption outside of China, ranking just behind Beijing and Shenzhen, according to DTPM.
Environmental impact of electric buses
The report, titled “Santiago de Chile 2024: Our Commitment to Carbon Neutrality,” highlights the positive effects of deploying zero-emission buses since 2016. Between 2018 and 2023, the city saved more than 60 million liters of diesel, equivalent to eliminating 2,900 wood-burning stoves running continuously, according to official estimates.
The report also shows an 80% reduction in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions, and an up to 44% decrease in urban noise levels on key transit routes like La Alameda avenue. These results reflect direct benefits in air quality, public health, and urban livability, especially in densely populated areas.
Currently, 2,550 electric buses are operating in Chile’s capital, making Santiago the city with the largest electric bus fleet outside of Asia.
DTPM Director, Paola Tapia Salas, emphasized the consistency of the electromobility policy in recent administrations. “This is a state-level public policy that has been upheld across three different governments. Electromobility is here to stay. By the end of this year, we’ll have 4,406 electric buses, making up 68% of Santiago’s total bus fleet,” she said.
The report projects that by the end of 2025, over two-thirds of Santiago’s public transportation system will operate under zero-emissions standards.
Supporting Chile’s 2050 carbon neutrality goal
Minister of Environment, Maisa Rojas, underscored the importance of electromobility in helping Chile meet its climate commitments: “This initial report shows the positive impact electric buses have on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, reducing air pollution, and improving people’s quality of life. Sustainable public transportation is key to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050,” she said.
The transportation sector accounts for over 30% of Chile’s total emissions, predominantly in urban areas. Decarbonizing public transportation is a vital tool for achieving the goals set by the Paris Agreement.
Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos Muñoz, confirmed that an additional 1,800 electric buses will join the Santiago public transportation system during 2025: “Our goal is to continue promoting electromobility throughout the country, as a means of increasing territorial equity. The benefits of investing in this clean energy source are immense,” he said during the presentation of the report.
The new electric buses will be distributed across the Santiago Metropolitan Region and other regions throughout the country, helping bring the benefits of electromobility to more communities.
Source: Mobility Portal Latinoamérica.
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