Flemish public transport operator De Lijn plans to buy up to 600 new electric buses. With the new framework agreement, De Lijn wants to green its fleet. Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) is making at least 55 million euros a year available for the purchase of emission-free buses.

Two framework agreements are involved: one for up to 500 standard e-buses, lasting six years, and one for up to 100 e-tram buses, lasting four years. With the framework agreement, De Lijn is not awarding a contract yet, but rather a preparatory step for awarding a contract. In other words, a framework is being created for an order. A decision on the order will follow later.

From Van Hool and VDL to Iveco

The new order runs parallel to previous framework agreements, such as that for the order of 60 standard e-buses by the end of 2021. De Lijn then ordered 36 standard electric buses from Lier-based bus builder Van Hool and 24 from Dutch company VDL, which has a branch in Roeselare. The delivery was delayed due to the corona crisis, but the 60 buses will be delivered to the depots in the coming months, and De Lijn will test them.

Earlier this year, De Lijn also ordered 17 electric tram buses within the existing framework agreements and signed a framework agreement with Italian bus maker Iveco for the delivery of up to 500 electric articulated buses, of which 65 are currently on order. VDL and Ebusco of the Netherlands had gone to the Council of State in vain as their bids were rejected. VDL was, however, able to secure a smaller order for 75 other e-buses.

Passenger comfort

De Lijn also clarified that the order plans now announced are open to all players. “De Lijn has further finalized the tender after an extensive market consultation over the past few weeks. This opens the door for additional suppliers to compete for the new award.”

Besides the environmental aspect, passenger comfort is also underlined, including an electric ramp for prams and wheelchairs, seats in artificial leather, extra-wide info screens for trip information, and USB chargers.

There are currently 63 De Lijn electric buses in circulation. By 2027, there should be at least 567. The public service contract between De Lijn and the Flemish government states that just under 40% of the vehicles of De Lijn and the private operators the transport company works with must be electric. It concerns a total of 1 375 vehicles. De Lijn’s ambition is to make its fleet – more than 2 000 buses – emission-free by 2035.