Module 3: eBuses in public transport

In recent years, urban mobility has been high on the agenda due to increasing urban populations and the associated transport-related congestion and pollution in cities. With intense competition for urban space, transport planning has significant impacts on quality of life for citizens. The notion that mobility is about more than simply moving vehicles and people is recurring theme for researchers, planners and policy makers alike acknowledging the potential for mobility to transform cities into more sustainable, liveable areas¹. 

The development of electric buses is growing from year to year in terms of both technology and acceptability. The 2015 global electric bus stock is estimated to be close to 173.000 vehicles, almost entirely located in China. Close to 150.000 of these are battery electric buses, running 100% on electricity¹. 

The electric bus stock grew nearly six fold between 2014 and 2015, demonstrating support for rapid public transport electrification from the Chinese government, which is driven by the urgent need to limit air pollution levels in Chinese cities. By 2020, China plans to have over 200.000 electric buses on its roads, accompanied by a network of close to 4.000 charging stations dedicated to buses¹.

In other countries, electric bus fleets do not reach the level of China – in the European Union there are more than 500 battery electric buses with the highest numbers in Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands (European Environment Agency, 2016)¹.