Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): STIB/MIVB plans to replace its entire bus fleet with electric buses by 2035, complying with Brussels low-emission zone regulations. They recently introduced an eCitaro bus and will acquire 55 more this year aiming for a sustainable public transport system.
The Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company (STIB/MIVB), which runs public transport in Brussels, is working to follow the new rules of the city’s low-emission zone (LEZ). The LEZ aims to make the air cleaner by limiting access to certain areas for vehicles that don’t meet specific emission standards. To comply STIB plans to get rid of its last buses that don’t meet the Euro 5 standard which is a set of emission limits created by the European Union. However, the new LEZ rules are stricter and require even lower emissions.
How is STIB/MIVB progressing towards a fully electric bus fleet by 2035?
By 2035, STIB plans to replace all 850 of its buses with fully electric ones to be more sustainable and reduce pollution in Brussels. They have already ordered new electric buses getting closer to their goal, and the CEO, Brieuc de Meeûs, mentioned that they are almost at one-tenth of their target. This change shows STIB’s commitment to improving air quality and updating public transport to meet future environmental standards.
The bus was shown on 28th August wednesday at the Marly depot in Neder-Over-Heembeek, which is being made ready for only electric buses. The first bus they got is an eCitaro from Mercedes-Benz, and it costs 820,000 euros. They will test this bus in the next few weeks and it should start running in the second half of September. After that they will get 55 more buses this year and the rest will come gradually until 2026.
The buses have a range of 200 kilometers, which isn’t enough for full service, so they will need to charge at the end points where MIVB is planning to install charging masts. Most of this work is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The depots also need to be further electrified while the Haren and Jacques Brel depots are partially electrified the Marly depot is set to become fully electric and will cover 35,000 m², accommodating over 200 electric buses. Currently, MIVB has 37 fully electric buses, including 5 minibuses in the city center, and the new buses will operate on specific lines.
