Costa Rican transportation company BIUSA has launched the country’s first private full fleet of electric buses, the Electricity Institute (ICE) announced.


ICE said 25 electric buses began operating on Route 10 in San José, connecting the capital with several of the busiest public transit areas, including La Uruca, La Carpio, León XIII, La Peregrina, the México Public Hospital and the National Amusement Park.


BIUSA purchased 50 King Long buses from China, each valued at $160,000. The zero-emission units have a range of 350 kilometers, seating for 41 passengers, air conditioning, a card-based fare payment system and low-floor accessibility for riders with disabilities.

The first 25 buses arrived in September and underwent technical tests and permitting before entering service.

BIUSA also installed 16 charging stations at its facilities. The chargers support the current fleet and will eventually allow simultaneous charging for up to 35 buses.

The company said its goal is to replace its entire gasoline-powered fleet with a fully electric one within a year.

The Provincial Bus Chamber (Caprobus) will monitor the buses during regular service to collect data that may help guide other transport operators.

  

The transition opens the door to a broader expansion of electric public transit in Costa Rica and marks a significant shift for riders and the national transportation system by reducing fuel-related emissions and noise pollution.

In Costa Rica, private bus operators work under service concession contracts issued by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT).

BIUSA’s fleet is the second electric fleet now operating in the country. In 2024, ICE received a donation of six electric buses from China, expanding its electric fleet to 12, including another six donated in 2022.

The institute uses the buses to test different routes and evaluate business models in areas such as San José and the Guanacaste.

ICE, is the state-owned agency that manages the country’s electricity and telecommunications.

MOPT is the state-owned organization that manages public roads, ports, and airports infrastructure, as well as national public transportation policy.

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