#electric-buses

#electric-buses

Chinese city of Guangzhou has put 288 newly delivered Zhongtong N7 electric buses into operation across central-city routes, marking another step in the city's full-electric public transport transition. The deployment is reported by Chinese trade media Chinabuses. As the economic center of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou has accelerated the electrification of its public transport system in recent years.

Rome's municipal operator has increased its e-bus order from the original 411 units to 425 vehicles. Our sister media Autobusweb reports that the update emerged from the "IV Report to the City", covered by Odissea Quotidiana - a Rome-focused mobility news outlet. The additional 14 battery-electric buses, funded through the National Strategic Fund for Sustainable Mobility, will be allocated to the Portonaccio, Tor Sapienza, Trastevere, Grottarossa and Tuscolana depots.

Kiira Motors Corporation has concluded a 1,771-kilometre electric coach run across Tanzania along its journey on the Made in Uganda Grand Trans-Africa Electric Expedition, which is offering the company a detailed set of observations on long-distance electric coach operation in East African conditions. The company was founded a few years ago and is owned by the State of Uganda. It focuses on the development of zero emission vehicles.

The Azadpur bus terminal in Delhi has been inaugurated after a major revamp. The upgraded terminal will operate 116 buses across 21 routes, most of them electric, according to The Times of India. The inauguration also saw the flag-off of 40 new electric buses, part of the city's rapid e-bus expansion, which has added 1,400 vehicles in the past eight months.

Five Polish cities, including Warsaw and Krakow, have ordered Irizar e-mobility electric buses lately, for a total of 80 units. The Spanish brand announces in fact that it has signed several contracts with Polish public transport operators to supply electric buses, with the Irizar ie bus selected in every case. Recently, the company concluded a deal with MZA Warsaw (Miejskie Zakłady Autobusowe sp. z o.o.) for ten 10-metre buses.

The manufacturer was awarded in late 2023 a supply of 153 electric buses, as Iveco won the 12-metre lot in the €120 million tender launched by Milan's public transport company, on the strength of an industrial plan to electrify the entire fleet of 1,200 buses by 2030. By 2026, half the fleet is expected to be zero-emission. The 18-meter lot was awarded to Solaris (and deliveries have just begun).

The 12-meter e-ATA delivered in Mersin, a port city on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey, are equipped with a 396 kWh battery, allowing a stated range of up to 400 kilometers with a charging time of approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. The buses are designed to carry up to 70 passengers and are powered by an electric motor producing 250 kW and 22,000 Nm of torque.

An EUR 80 million Brazil E-Bus Credit Enhancement Fund has been established to accelerate the deployment of electric buses across Brazilian cities, aiming to introduce more than 1,700 vehicles and associated charging infrastructure by 2030. The fund, unveiled at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, is expected to mobilize roughly EUR 450 million in private lending. The initiative was launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with Brazil's Ministry of Cities and Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, BTG Pactual, the Mitigation Action Facility (MAF), and WRI Brasil.

Between January and September 2025, ACEA reports that registrations of electric buses in the European Union reached 6,444 units, up 49 percent compared to the same period in 2024. When including the United Kingdom and EFTA countries, the figure rises to 9,346 units - a 52 percent increase year-on-year. Electrically chargeable buses now represent 22 percent of all new registrations, according to ACEA's latest data that embraces all buses over 3.5 ton.

According to the Ebusco Q3 2025 operational update, the Dutch manufacturer delivered 39 electric buses between July and September, a result consistent with the previous quarter. This brings total deliveries for the year to 86 units, with the company expecting at least the same number of buses to be delivered in the fourth quarter. The company continues to undergo changes in key management positions, with the search for a permanent CEO ongoing, following the resignation of Christian Schreyer in June 2025.

Kreuzlingen is among the first Swiss cities to fully convert its urban bus network to electric operation. By mid-November 2025, eight Solaris Urbino electric buses will be in service, replacing the previous diesel fleet. The new fleet features wood-shell seats designed for durability and ease of cleaning, USB charging ports between seats, and a cashless ticketing system that accepts TWINT and card payments.

A few days after the close of Busworld Europe 2025, it's time to look beyond the spotlights and the crowded stands. Trade fairs are mirrors of ambition as much as of reality, and Brussels offered both - innovation on stage, uncertainty behind the scenes. Here are a few reflections on what this year's edition really revealed about the direction of the bus and coach industry.

Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited ( PMPML) has temporarily halted its plans to procure double-decker electric buses due to recurring issues with existing electric buses, as reported on The Times of India. Issues include frequent breakdowns attributed to battery degradation and challenges posed by Pune's traffic conditions. The first DD battery-electric bus model on offer in the country is the Switch EiV 22 launched in 2022 and delivered, among others, in Mumbai and Hyderabad.

ABB Motion is showcasing its latest technologies for the public transport sector at Busworld Europe 2025. Among the highlights are the Traction Battery Pro Series, the AMXE250S traction motor, and the HES580 mobile inverter, developed to power the next generation of electric buses. Battery, motor and inverter at ABB Motion stand The Traction Battery Pro Series was designed for safety, longevity, and operational flexibility. The system supported ultra-fast charging, optimized total cost of ownership, and integrated seamlessly with ABB's drivetrain ecosystem to accelerate fleet decarbonization.

BYD has unveiled today at Busworld Europe 2025 the BYD eBus B12.b HF and the BYD eBus B18.b, alongside displaying also the eBus B12.b LE. The new models are built on BYD's proprietary eBus Platform 3.0 and incorporate Blade Battery in Chassis technology, Wheel Hub Hairpin Motors, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. BYD also announced the expansion of its European manufacturing and service footprint, including the opening of an OEM-run battery service center in the UK.

Iveco Bus is participating in Busworld Europe 2025 in Brussels from October 4 to 9, presenting its range of sustainable vehicles and services at stand 402B, Hall 4. The manufacturer highlights once again a technology-neutral strategy, offering electric, biomethane, biofuel, natural gas, and B100 solutions to support cities and operators in the energy transition.

In recent years, several European countries have adopted models similar to FaaS, supported by infrastructure funds, green bonds and public guarantees. These initiatives, which have enabled the financing of electric buses and fleets, trams, digital ticketing systems and MaaS platforms, confirm that FaaS is one of the most successful solutions for fleet decarbonisation. However, many providers of this model focus on individual aspects of the transition: some on electric vehicles, others only on infrastructure.

Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe ( KVB) has placed an order for 78 electric buses with Jebsen & Jessen e-Mobility, representing the Spanish manufacturer I rizar e-mobility in the DACH area. The procurement includes 38 articulated buses and 40 standard buses, making it the largest single bus order in the company's history. First deliveries are scheduled for October 2026, KVB states in a press note. With this addition, KVB's electric fleet will comprise two brands: the 118 VDL buses already in operation (the latest order with the Dutch manufacturer dates back to 2021) and the newly ordered 78 Irizar buses.

The first fully electric buses have entered service in Essex, England, this week, marking the start of a large-scale transition to zero-emission public transport in the region. Four vehicles are now operating in Basildon, with the rollout set to continue over the coming months until a total of 55 electric buses are in service by the end of the year, says a press note by First Bus.

MAN Truck & Bus has signed a memorandum of understanding with Improtex Trucks & Buses (MAN's local partner) and the Government of Azerbaijan to establish local xKD production of electric buses. The agreement marks a further step in the company's international expansion strategy. The MoU was signed in Baku by Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus, Samad Bashirli, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Fizuli Alakbarov, President of Improtex Trucks & Buses LLC.

On the battery side of things, the new platform integrates BYD's Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) modules directly into the chassis using the so-called cell-to-chassis technology. This means the floor of the bus can be lower because the pack doesn't have to be installed on top of the chassis rails. Going the extra mile is also possible thanks to the impressive 1,000-volt rating of the high-voltage batteries, a first in the bus sector.

Solaris will deliver zero emission buses in Gdańsk for the first time: 30 e-buses, 18 units of 12-metre vehicles and 12 articulated Solaris Urbino 18, are expected to be operational by September next year. The Solaris Urbino 12 electric models ordered by ZTM Gdańsk will be equipped with 600 kWh batteries, while the articulated versions will feature energy storage systems with a capacity of as much as 800 kWh. Solaris to deliver electric buses in Gdańsk The Solaris Urbino electric buses destined for Gdańsk are the latest models in the producer's portfolio, featuring a modular drive system that allows the placement of drive components on the roof, eliminating the need for a traditional engine tower. This solution optimizes passenger space and increases capacity. The 12-metre models will carry up to 70 passengers, while the articulated versions will accomodate as many as 107 passengers.

Scania announced plans to deliver its first fully electric city and suburban buses to Norway, with the fleet scheduled to enter service in Vestfold in summer 2026. The delivery marks the company's initial entry into the Norwegian e-bus market and supports Tide Buss's efforts to operate a zero-emission public transport network in the region. The order includes 41 two-axle buses, each 12.2 meters long, featuring 39 fixed seats, three foldable seats, and standing room.

The Crossway Low Entry Elec, launched already in 2023 (and followed in late 2024 by the normal floor version), features 485-kWh battery supporting CCS2 charging for a stated range of up to 400 km. The bus can carry up to 45 seated and over 70 standing passengers. It's produced in Vysoké Mýto, Czech Republic, where in 2024 as many as 5,000 vehicles were produced, 92 percent of which were Crossways: 57 out of every 100 were produced in the Normal Floor version, with the remaining 43 in the Low Entry version.