Following orders for e-buses from VDL Bus & Coach, Van Hool, and Chinese BYD, the Flemish public transport company De Lijn has again ordered similar buses from Italian Iveco. The order involves 32 18-meter articulated e-buses.
Earlier, De Lijn ordered 109 similar buses from Iveco. The first vehicles from that order will be delivered this year. The new order represents an investment of about 24 million euros.
Delivery for 2025-2026
The order for 32 e-buses, which is within a previously agreed framework agreement, will be delivered from 2025 to 2026. De Lijn was years behind with the greening and rejuvenation of its bus fleet, but thanks to an additional investment of 400 million from the Flemish government, the transport company can now finally get down to business.
De Lijn wants completely emission-free public transport by 2035. That means it needs to green 3,600 buses at about 140 depots. De Lijn currently operates buses that are more than ten years old on average. The company did order new vehicles, but deliveries were delayed. A shortage of deployable buses is one of the reasons why De Lijn must reduce the offer in some regions.
Almost 100% EU bus
The new buses will be customer-friendly. For example, passengers will be able to charge their cell phones on board. Extra-wide screens on board will also provide up-to-date trip information. For less mobile passengers, there will be an electrically operated ramp. The steering station is partially enclosed.
According to General Manager Iveco Bus Paul Mechele, 99,7% of the parts needed to build a bus are of European origin. The buses also have all modern safety equipment, such as camera mirrors, an anti-collision system, a blind spot sensor, and detection systems for cyclists and pedestrians.
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