European Cities Embrace Zero-Emission City Buses: A Sustainable Shift in Urban Transportation
Key Ideas
- In 2024, 49% of new city buses in the EU were zero-emission, with electric buses accounting for 46%, marking a significant shift in urban transportation towards sustainability.
- The market for city buses is progressing faster towards zero-emission technologies than required by EU regulations, with a projected complete transition by 2027.
- Fuel cell hydrogen city buses have seen a rise to nearly 3% market share in 2024, indicating a diversification in zero-emission technologies alongside the dominant battery electric powertrain.
- Leading countries like the Netherlands, Finland, and Iceland have achieved 100% battery electric city bus sales, showcasing strong commitment to sustainable urban mobility.
In 2024, the European Union witnessed a substantial increase in zero-emission city buses, with nearly half of all new city buses being of the zero-emission type. This shift towards sustainable urban transportation is attributed to the growing use of electricity and alternative fuels in European cities' bus fleets. The success of electric buses surpassed diesel sales in 2023, and the trend continued into 2024, with 46% of new city buses being electric. These changes are seen as a positive outcome of the European Green Deal, driven by new regulations and city-level policies promoting zero-emission zones and fleet targets.
The rapid adoption of zero-emission technologies has outpaced EU directives, with projections indicating a full transition by 2027. This shift not only benefits the environment but also contributes to quieter streets and cleaner air in cities. While battery electric buses remain dominant, fuel cell hydrogen city buses have doubled their market share in 2024. Major gains in fuel cell technology have been observed in several European countries like Germany, Spain, Poland, Italy, and the UK.
The market trend shows a clear preference for battery electric buses, while other alternative powertrains like hybrid and gas buses have remained stable at lower market shares. Notably, the Netherlands, Finland, and Iceland lead the way with 100% battery electric city bus sales in 2024, followed closely by Spain and the UK. However, some countries are progressing slower in adopting zero-emission buses, highlighting the need for accelerated efforts towards sustainable urban transportation.
Topics
Europe
Sustainability
Market Trends
Fuel Cell Technology
European Green Deal
European Union
Electric Buses
Urban Transportation
Clean Air
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