Projects
MOVeR - Green, Electric, and Resilient Mobility
Operation code 05/C21-i13-RAM/2025.P30482. Investment RP-C21-i13-RAM – Decarbonization of Transport, framed within Component C21 – REPowerEU, of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). "DESCARBONIZAR_RAM" Incentive System to support the acquisition of clean buses allocated to regular public road transport and support for the acquisition of charging/refueling stations for clean buses.
PROMOTING ENTITY
Horários do Funchal - Transportes Públicos, S.A.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This operation consists of the decarbonization of public transport in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (RAM) through the acquisition of six 100% electric buses, the installation of four DC fast chargers with smart energy management, and the construction of a dedicated transformer substation at the Horários do Funchal facilities at Fundoa station, the company's primary operational center. The operation also includes communication and awareness actions aimed at promoting sustainable mobility and publicizing the environmental, energy, and social benefits associated with the electrification of public transport.
This intervention aims to accelerate the energy transition of the Horários do Funchal fleet, promoting the gradual replacement of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles with zero-emission mobility solutions. This will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel consumption, and urban noise levels associated with public passenger transport operations. Simultaneously, it will improve air quality in the most densely populated urban areas, reinforcing the environmental and public health benefits for residents and visitors.
The installation of the charging infrastructure and the transformer substation will ensure the necessary technical conditions for the efficient operation of the new electric fleet, allowing for optimized management of available power through smart charging systems, dynamic load balancing, and time scheduling of energy supply cycles. This solution will contribute to the efficient integration of electric mobility into the local power grid, ensuring high levels of operational reliability, energy efficiency, and resilience of the public transport service.
The operation will also provide users with technologically modern, quieter, more comfortable, and accessible vehicles, contributing to an increase in the perceived quality of the service, an improved travel experience, and the strengthening of public transport's appeal as a sustainable alternative to private transport.
The project aligns with the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Recovery and Resilience Plan under the REPowerEU component, contributing to the decarbonization of the transport sector and the reduction of reliance on fossil fuels. It is also aligned with the priorities defined for the Autonomous Region of Madeira in regional strategic instruments—namely PIETRAM 2021–2027, PAMUS-RAM, PAESC, and PDES Madeira 2030—which identify sustainable mobility, energy efficiency, and carbon neutrality as fundamental pillars for regional development and territorial cohesion.
OBJECTIVES
The MOVeR project aims to decrease energy consumption, decarbonize land transport, improve air quality, and increase the attractiveness of the public transport service in the urban area of Funchal. The operation focuses on the continuous renewal of the Horários do Funchal fleet through an energy transition from internal combustion engines to zero-emission 100% electric buses, which will be used on the highest-demand urban routes.
This intervention is intended to guarantee a more sustainable, accessible, safe, and comfortable public transport service, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, local air pollutants, and noise associated with the circulation of the urban fleet. At the same time, the introduction of more modern vehicles will improve the perceived quality of the service and boost passenger satisfaction.
The operation also aims to install smart charging stations at the Fundoa station, as well as a dedicated transformer substation, ensuring the technical conditions necessary for the regular operation of the new electric fleet. This component will strengthen Horários do Funchal's operational autonomy, optimize charging cycles, and efficiently manage available power, minimizing impacts on the local electrical infrastructure.
Thus, the project contributes to the overall improvement of the quality of the service provided, in line with regional, national, and European strategic instruments regarding sustainable mobility, energy efficiency, and transport decarbonization. The operation also includes communication and awareness actions associated with the promotion of electric mobility and sustainable public transport, as outlined in the PRR application eligibility framework.
INVESTMENT
Total project value: €2,268,800.00
PRR funding: €1,464,000.00