City Police Fleet Transition Begins in 2027
On 16 September 2026, the Barcelona City Council formally approved the award of eight contracts for the supply of 184 new patrol vehicles to the Guàrdia Urbana (Urban Guard) through leasing agreements. The delivery of these vehicles will begin in early 2027, marking a major step toward phasing out petrol-powered cars from the city police fleet. Under the terms of the agreement, the new vehicles will remain in service for 54 months, four and a half years, with the first batch expected to be operational until 2032. Later deliveries may extend beyond that date.
Fleet Composition and Environmental Goals
The renewal programme includes 160 non-plug-in hybrid vehicles, 13 plug-in hybrids and 11 fully electric models. This mix reflects the council’s push toward sustainability while acknowledging current limitations in charging infrastructure across municipal facilities. According to official documents, although full electrification is not yet feasible, this contract initiates a pilot phase for electric and plug-in hybrid patrol units. The goal is to replace nearly all current passenger cars used by the Guàrdia Urbana with more sustainable alternatives. Vehicles will be delivered in two batches per lot, allowing technical staff to validate prototype units before full rollout. Each model must undergo inspection by municipal engineers to ensure compatibility with required equipment, including detainee kits and safety accessories.
Although full electrification of the fleet is not yet possible, this tender has made it possible to initiate a pilot test with plug-in hybrid and 100% electric patrol vehicles.
All vehicles, whether marked with official Guàrdia Urbana livery or unmarked, will follow the same distribution across hybrid and electric types.
Delivery and Usage Conditions
Most vehicles are permitted a maximum of 110,000 kilometres over their 54-month lifespan. However, usage caps vary: six electric vehicles are limited to 55,000 km, some hybrids to 70,000 km, and one non-plug-in hybrid SUV model to 60,000 km. The contract stipulates that excess mileage will incur a charge of up to €0.10 per kilometre, while unused mileage will be reimbursed to the city at €0.02 per kilometre. Fire extinguishers are not mandatory but are strongly recommended; suppliers must equip each vehicle with a portable unit meeting specific technical standards to respond to fires in public spaces.
Contract Awards and Financial Breakdown
Two companies secured the contracts through public tender on the Barcelona City Council’s Electronic Procurement Portal. Arval Service Lease SAU won six lots, including Lot 1 (90 non-plug-in hybrids) valued at €9,394,258.50 including VAT, and Lot 2 (40 similar vehicles) at €4,288,876. Alphabet España Fleet Management obtained Lot 5 (10 non-plug-in hybrids) and Lot 6 (14 non-plug-in hybrids). The total cost for the 184-vehicle lease is €17,724,655, with €16,442,091 allocated to Arval and €1,282,564 to Alphabet. Budget allocations span from 2027 to 2030 under the council’s mobility and security programmes. Xènia Alvarez Piñol, head of the Vehicle Section, has been designated as the contracting officer responsible for overseeing implementation.
Part of Broader Sustainability Drive
This procurement follows previous renewals, including the addition of 21 new vans and utility vehicles in late 2025, over half of which were electric or hybrid. As of that update, 50.8% of the Guàrdia Urbana’s 624-vehicle fleet was either electric or hybrid. The 2026 renewal accelerates the transition, aligning with the city’s broader climate goals and efforts to install more charging points at municipal buildings. Further acquisitions are expected in coming years to continue modernising the force’s mobile resources.
Primary sources: ajuntament.barcelona.cat, boe.es, Barcelona City Council, barcelona.cat, Direcció de Serveis de Gestió de Costos i Avaluació. Reported by metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, licitacions.bcn.cat, Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life.
