Valpi Bus accelerates the transition to electric mobility with REMO
REMO – Powered by Mota-Engil was awarded two public tenders launched by Valpi Bus and established a partnership to implement an integrated electric mobility solution for its transport operations in Penafiel. The project combines 20 100% electric HIGER buses with high-power charging infrastructure, intelligent energy management and preventive maintenance, delivering a turnkey solution tailored to the specific needs of the operation.
OVERVIEW
Client: Valpi Bus / Grupo Valpi
What was delivered:
- 20 fully electric 12m HIGER Azure 12 buses
- 10 buses for Valpi Bus and 10 buses for Expressdiagram
- 20 high-power charging points
- 2,000 kW total installed charging capacity
- Intelligent energy management system
- Preventive maintenance and operational support
Strategic Partners: HIGER and Kempower
Location: Penafiel Transport Hub, Novelas, Portugal
Funding: Public tender under Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), co-financed by the Environmental Fund
The challenge
The transition of a regional public transport operation to electric mobility requires more than replacing conventional buses with electric vehicles. For Valpi Bus, the challenge was to implement a reliable and scalable solution capable of supporting the daily operation of a mixed fleet across different transport services.
The project required:
- High-performance electric buses capable of meeting demanding daily operational requirements
- High-power charging infrastructure adapted to the fleet and depot
- Intelligent power allocation to optimise charging and energy use
- Seamless integration between vehicles and charging systems
- A reliable maintenance and support structure to maximise fleet availability
- A solution tailored to the specific operational context of the operator
Valpi Bus needed a partner capable of bringing together vehicles, charging infrastructure, energy and engineering expertise within a single integrated solution.
Execution
The project was delivered through a turnkey approach, combining REMO’s engineering expertise with the industrial capabilities of HIGER and Kempower:
- SOLUTION ENGINEERING: REMO worked closely with Valpi Bus, HIGER and Kempower to design and adapt the solution to the specific requirements of the operation, ensuring seamless integration between the electric buses and charging infrastructure.
- ELECTRIC FLEET: REMO supplied 20 HIGER Azure 12 fully electric buses, 10 for Valpi Bus and 10 for Expressdiagram. The buses are equipped with 481.53 kWh CATL traction batteries, a fire protection system based on an inert nitrogen atmosphere, and DualCharging ultra-fast charging capability. The batteries come with a 15-year warranty and ensure a minimum range of 300 km until the end of the warranty perio
- PASSENGER EXPERIENCE: The HIGER buses combine zero-emission operation with passenger and driver comfort, including onboard Wi-Fi, USB charging, air conditioning, onboard information systems. The buses are also designed for quiet operation and reliable day-to-day performance.
- CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE: REMO implemented 10 Kempower C-Series C800 double chargers, providing 20 high-power charging points and a total installed capacity of 2,000 kW. The system supports dynamic power allocation with 25 kW granularity, allowing available power to be distributed according to operational requirements.
- SMART ENERGY MANAGEMENT: The integrated energy management solution optimises charging processes and dynamically manages available power, supporting greater efficiency and continuity of the operation.
- LONG-TERM SUPPORT: REMO’s integrated approach includes preventive maintenance and operational support, helping ensure fleet reliability, availability and continuity over the lifetime of the project.
This combination of fleet, charging infrastructure, energy management and engineering expertise provides Valpi Bus with a flexible solution designed around its operational needs and prepared for the continued transition towards electric mobility.
Result
The Valpi Bus project demonstrates how an integrated approach can accelerate the electrification of regional public transport. By combining 20 fully electric buses with high-power charging infrastructure, intelligent energy management and ongoing support, REMO delivers a complete solution focused on operational efficiency, reliability and long-term sustainability.
The project is expected to deliver significant environmental and energy benefits while providing a modern, technologically advanced fleet for passengers and operators.
- 20 fully electric HIGER Azure 12 buses
- 20 high-power charging points
- 2,000 kW total installed charging capacity
- 765 t CO₂ estimated annual emissions reduction
- 200+ toe estimated annual energy savings
- 481.53 kWh battery capacity per bus
- Minimum range of 300 km until the end of the battery warranty period.
- Integrated intelligent energy management
- Complete solution combining fleet, charging infrastructure, energy and maintenance
Luís Castanheira, CEO, REMO – Powered by Mota-Engil
“The transition to more sustainable mobility requires more than electrifying vehicles. It requires integrated solutions capable of combining infrastructure, energy, technology and operations to ensure efficiency and reliability every day. This project with Grupo Valpi is a concrete example of this approach and demonstrates how we can work together with operators to transform public transport, delivering benefits for operations, passengers and cities.”
