The Flemish transport company De Lijn is once again investing in a sustainable future.
With the order of 32 articulated electric buses from the European bus manufacturer Iveco, De Lijn is taking an important step towards its ambitious goal: completely emission-free public transport by 2035. The investment amounts to approximately 24 million euros and is part of a larger greening plan that must provide Flanders with cleaner and more environmentally friendly public transport.
The order with Iveco is an extension of an existing framework agreement, which previously included 109 articulated electric buses. Delivery of the new vehicles is expected from the turn of the year 2025-2026. These 18-metre long buses are specially designed to be comfortable, safe and user-friendly. Passengers will have access to charging points for their mobile devices and up-to-date trip information via wide screens. Disabled people will be catered for with electrically operated ramps, while drivers will enjoy a comfortable and advanced driving position.
accelerated greening
Annick De Ridder, Flemish Minister of Mobility, emphasises the importance of this new investment. “The Flemish Government fully supports the sustainability of public transport and has even put a turbo on it,” De Ridder explains. “We have made an additional budget of 400 million euros available not only to renew the bus and tram fleet, but also to modernise the associated infrastructure. This makes De Lijn not only more attractive for travellers, but also for drivers.”
De Lijn's CEO Ann Schoubs agrees and points out the scale of the challenge. "Greening 3.600 buses and 140 depots is a huge undertaking," Schoubs explains. "In addition to the financial support from the Flemish government, it is crucial that the electrification works at the depots are approved on time, so that the buses can actually be charged."
The choice for Iveco fits within De Lijn's broader strategy to work with partners who have sustainability high on the agenda. Paul Mechele, General Manager at Iveco Bus, emphasizes the company's green ambitions. "We are proud that 99,7% of the parts for our buses come from Europe," says Mechele. "In addition, we have optimized our production process to further reduce the ecological footprint of our vehicles."
With this new order, De Lijn shows that the company is not only committed to emission-free transport, but also to innovation and passenger comfort. For example, the new buses are equipped with advanced safety systems, such as cameras instead of mirrors, blind spot detection and sensors that recognize cyclists and pedestrians. This should not only contribute to a better environment, but also to safer and more user-friendly public transport.
ambitious goal
De ambition of De Lijn to be completely emission-free by 2035, is in line with broader European climate and sustainability objectives. With this order, and the orders placed earlier, the transport company shows that it takes the greening objectives seriously and is taking concrete steps to achieve them.
The renewal and sustainability of the fleet is not only good news for the environment, but also for the traveller. Thanks to modern technologies and improved facilities, public transport is becoming increasingly attractive. For Flanders, this means cleaner air and fewer emissions, without sacrificing comfort and safety.
