Ajah To Ibadan And Back: LAMATA’s New Electric Buses Offer 280km Range, 40% More Than Diesel BRT Buses’ Daily Distance

Earlier in the week, Lagos’ public transport network received 11 new battery-electric buses supplied by Oando Clean Energy Limited (OCEL) to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), as the state continues to expand its cleaner mobility programme.”

Manufactured by China’s Yutong, the buses are reported to travel up to 280 kilometres (174 miles) on a full charge, according to OCEL. That distance is comparable to a return journey between Ajah in Lagos, and Ibadan, illustrating the range available before recharging.

The reported range is 40 per cent more than the average 200 kilometres (124 miles) covered daily by existing diesel-powered Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses, though actual range can vary with traffic, passenger loads, air-conditioning use, road conditions and driving style.

The Yutong E12 platform is listed with a battery capacity of approximately 422 kWh and a liquid-cooling system. In addition, it uses regenerative braking, which recovers energy during deceleration and feeds it back into the battery to improve efficiency, particularly in stop-and-go city traffic.

Each new bus operated by LAMATA can carry 79 passengers, comprising 39 seated and 40 standing. Passenger amenities include air conditioning and onboard Wi-Fi, providing commuters with a more comfortable and connected journey.

Safety and accessibility equipment includes 360-degree cameras, additional security cameras, wheelchair access and priority seating for elderly passengers. These features are designed to improve monitoring onboard while making public transport more accessible.

The newly introduced 11 buses form the first batch of an additional 50 planned under the LAMATA-Oando partnership, with 39 more expected to follow. The longer-term target is to deploy 552 fully electric buses across Lagos, building on two pilot electric buses, marked EV 01 and EV 02, introduced in May 2023.

According to Hadiza Adukonu, Vice President, Opportunity, Maturation & New Ventures at Oando Clean Energy, the first two electric buses deployed in May 2023 had transported approximately 788,000 passengers and covered 433,000 kilometres by November 2026.

• See Also: LAMATA And Oando Accelerate Green Transit With 11 New Electric Buses As Part Of Initial 50-Vehicle Plan