PRÉMIO asked some questions to companies in the north of the country involved in the theme of Electric Mobility and who are providing a great contribution to the development of efficient cities.

Oporto was the first city in the Iberian Peninsula to have the first electric car in 1895, causing at the time a revolution in the concept of public transport. How do explain that, after a 125-year cycle, electric transport is now back on the agenda?

One of STCP’s main commitments is the adoption of technologically efficient solutions that promote positive, social and environmental impacts in the communities we serve. This occurred when we were the first in Portugal to introduce electrical energy to power cars on rails 125 years ago or when we starting betting on Natural Gas 21 years ago. To this end, based on our current knowledge of the impact of transportation on climate change, I believe that it is not surprising that STCP is betting on an increasingly sustainable fleet, which includes electric buses, which are now part of the daily lives of our passengers.

Oddly enough, 125 years after, STCP still operates three lines of historic electric cars in daily operation, now with a fleet of electric buses.

What is STCP’s investment in the area of electric mobility for 2021?

In 2021, and co-funded by POSEUR II, STCP will continue its fleet renewal and is about to receive 86 buses more, including 5 electric, adding up to the 188 vehicles acquired between 2018 and 2020, an investment totalling € 70,1 M. We are reducing our ecological footprint.

How is STCP contributing to this paradigm shift in urban mobility?

This paradigm shift shall be operated by each player1, but it will have to go involve a set of measures to be adopted by all stakeholders in the city.

With this, STCP, always supported by its shareholders, has been implementing measures aimed at making the future more sustainable, having been a pioneer at all times in the modernisation of its operation.

STCP’s value proposition is and will be, to seek better ways to link destinations, through greener mobility, always focusing on people, the city and the environment.