Rio de Janeiro's first combustion-engine bus line began operating in 1908, between Praça Mauá and Passeio Público. On the occasion of the National Exhibition, a route to Praia Vermelha was also offered. Other lines followed, until the arrival of the first electric buses in 1916. Two years later, Light acquired that concession. The company's first experience was with electric buses starting in 1919, when it launched a line that ran along Avenida Central (now Rio Branco), between Palácio Monroe and Praça Mauá. This service was discontinued in 1927, shortly after the introduction of the new buses with internal combustion engines, popularly known as "motores a explosão." The wheels of the electric buses were made of solid rubber, and the traction system was based on energy accumulators, that is, batteries. It ran without noise, vibration, or smoke. In other words, it was everything we still dream of today!
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of an old bus parked in front of a grand building. On the left side, we see a tree with green leaves. In the center, there is a dark bus with several side windows and passenger seats. On the right stands a large building with classical architecture, featuring columns, domes, and ornamental details. In the background, more trees and a staircase are visible.Ônibus elétrico em frente ao Palácio Monroe - 1920 - Augusto Malta
Following the international trend, Light innovated once again by adding to its activities a luxurious urban bus transport service – which offered more comfort and shelter, in a vehicle equipped with suspension that ensured a smoother ride. In June 1926, The Rio de Janeiro Tramway, Light and Power Co. Ltd. created Viação Excelsior. Just as it had done with the trams, it began manufacturing the cabins, importing chassis and engines. The first lines connected Downtown to the South Zone.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of an old bus in front of a monumental building. On the left side, we see a large building with several windows and architectural details. In the center, there is a building with columns and an ornate roof. On the right, a building with domes and ornamental decorations is visible. In the foreground, a two-car bus is stopped, with people inside it. The vehicle's plate shows "1805."Palácio Pedro Ernesto – março de 1930 – Fotógrafo não identificado
This enabled Light to promote the two possibilities that existed at the time – without conflicts and in harmony, for as long as that was possible. Because further along, in the middle of the century, the city's growth and the exponential increase of vehicles on the streets ended up making the streetcars an unviable business.
Image description: The image is an old photograph of a bus. The scene shows the vehicle in the foreground, with an open structure on the roof and large wheels. In the background, there is a mountain covered with vegetation. On the right, there are buildings and a bridge. In the upper right part of the image, there is a frame with text that reads "PLATE N° V.I. 278" and "BOX N° 28".Ônibus da Viação Excelsior – Sem data – Augusto Malta
It was a radically new experience, distinct from that of the horse-drawn stagecoach or the mule-drawn or electric motor-powered streetcar. A new phase in urban transport was beginning with those new cars, all equipped with a speed regulator. The driver was the “chauffeur,” and next to him there was a collection box for tickets, and overcrowding was not allowed. Along the cabins, above the windows, ran a cord that, when pulled, activated the “cigarra,” the sound signal alerting the driver to stop.
Image description: This is a photograph of an old bus. From the left side to the center, we see large windows that allow a view of an outdoor landscape with trees and a clear sky. In the center, there are seats arranged in parallel rows, with geometric patterns on the backrests. On the right, there are also windows offering a view similar to that on the left side. On the ceiling, there are metal structures that may be supports for electrical cables. In the upper right part of the image, there is text that reads "PLATE N° V.I. 273 BOX N° 28".Ônibus da Viação Excelsior - Vista Interna – 08/11/1927
In April 1928, the two-story “imperial cars,” soon nicknamed “double beer,” began running between Centro and the Zona Norte on two lines: Estrada de Ferro - Lapa and Clube Naval - Leopoldina. The novelty was a hit. They had three axles, the engines and chassis were imported from England, and the wooden cabins were built in Light's workshops. By 1941, already obsolete, they stopped running.
Image description: The image is an old photograph of a double-decker bus. The spatial arrangement begins on the left, where we see a row of tall palm trees, followed by a sidewalk and a wall. In the center, there is a large bus with two open side doors, revealing stairs leading to the upper deck. The bus is parked on a wide street, with buildings in the distance. On the right, there is a building with arches and windows. The sky is clear and the sun appears to be high. In the upper right portion of the image, there is text reading "PLATE N.V.I. 383 BOX N. 39".Imperial - Ônibus de dois pavimentos – Sem data – Augusto Malta