The week in electric bus news: e-buses motor past inflection point in Europe

Electric city buses have reached a significant milestone in Europe, with 60 percent of new orders in 2025 being electric, according to Transport and Environment. This figure includes 56 percent battery-electric and 4 percent fuel cell vehicles, signalling a rapid shift away from diesel-powered fleets. At the current pace, it is anticipated that all new city buses in the European Union will be electric by 2028, reflecting growing commitments to zero-emission public transport across the continent. Several manufacturers from Europe and Asia are actively supplying electric buses, contributing to the expansion of electrified fleets. Austrian operator Blaguss has introduced 12 battery-electric coaches from Chinese manufacturer Yutong, following a successful pilot of solar-powered vehicles. In Lithuania, Turkish company Temsa has delivered 15 MD9 electriCITY buses to Kaunas’ public transport operator, with plans to increase the fleet to over 300 units. Meanwhile, Belgium’s De Lijn has commissioned its 1,000th electric bus and aims to eliminate diesel buses entirely by 2035, which will require substantial investments in vehicles, charging infrastructure, and workforce training. In Italy, the city of Cagliari on Sardinia has incorporated three hydrogen fuel cell buses alongside a large fleet of battery-electric and trolleybuses, targeting a fully zero-emission urban fleet by 2030. The diverse mix of electric and hydrogen vehicles highlights the varied approaches to decarbonising public transport, especially for longer suburban routes where hydrogen’s longer range is advantageous. The city’s charging infrastructure already includes a combination of Level 2 and DC fast chargers to support the growing fleet. The UK has also made significant strides with new government and local authority funding to accelerate electric bus deployment outside London and the Southeast. England has secured over £167 million to support the purchase of 484 zero-emission buses and the necessary charging infrastructure, while Scotland has approved £45 million for 334 zero-emission vehicles, including buses and coaches. Complemented by private investment, these funding packages underscore a nationwide commitment to expanding electric public transport. Supporting this transition, Aurora Utilities has upgraded grid connections for Stagecoach’s bus depots across England and Scotland, enabling the operator to charge approximately 1,330 electric buses—around 16 percent of its UK fleet. This enhancement of energy capacity is critical to sustaining the rapid growth of electric bus fleets and ensuring reliable, large-scale charging infrastructure. Together, these developments mark a pivotal moment for electric buses in Europe and the UK, signalling a decisive move towards cleaner, zero-emission urban mobility.