Grupo Julià, a Spanish business leading in global tourism and mobility services, and the London-headquartered company Zenobē, a leader electrification of large transport fleets, have signed an agreement that marks the beginning of the sustainable transition of the coach fleet of the Group based in Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona) to zero emissions.
The agreement, with an estimated initial investment of 42 million euros, includes Zenobē financing the coaches that Grupo Julià will use to operate their tourist bus services.
The agreement includes two contracts: the coach rental which includes monthly payments and an option to purchase the vehicles at the end of the contract, and on the other hand, the battery rental which ensures the batteries in the vehicles will always meet route requirements and covers all the associated maintenance.
In addition, Zenobē will build, maintain and operate the infrastructure required for the operation of the new electric fleet including new substation, solar panels, electric chargers, and 150 kW hoses for electric vehicles. These will be implemented in two phases to ensure Grupo Julià can continue with normal operations. Zenobē’s software will enable smart vehicle charging and optimisation, providing key consumption and charging parameters.
This end-to-end solution will position Grupo Julià as a leader in sustainable passenger transportation within the tourism sector of Spain. This is Zenobē’s first large fleet electrification project in Spain, with the company already supporting over 2,000 electric vehicles in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
José Francisco Adell, CEO of Grupo Julià said: “this operation positions Barcelona as the city with the most sustainable tourist bus service in the world and sets the course for the company’s future fleet investment strategy from now on”.
Meanwhile, Martín Navarro, EV Business Director of Zenobē in Spain, emphasized that: “the collaboration with Grupo Julià represents an excellent starting point for Zenobē to bring its global experience supporting over 120 bus depots to the Spanish market.”
SOURCE: Zenobē
