The Flemish public transport company De Lijn is ordering 290 electric buses, Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder announced as the Belgium press agency Belga reports. This is an investment of 185 million euros that fits in with De Lijn's ambition to offer completely emission-free public transport by 2035.
Around 50 buses from this order will be made at the VDL Bus & Coach factory in Roeselare, Belgium. These are articulated e-buses with a length of 18 metres. Another 100 articulated buses have been ordered from Iveco Bus, which will be built in France. Finally, De Lijn ordered 140 standard e-buses, with a length of 12 metres, from the Chinese company BYD. These vehicles will be built in Hungary.
The first buses will be delivered from the end of next year. The Flemish government has made 400 million euros available to De Lijn to invest in rolling stock. The order for these 290 e-buses is in addition to the 230 e-buses that are currently being delivered. Minister De Ridder expects that De Lijn will place an additional order later this year.