De Lijn is set to expand its electric bus fleet with orders for 268 vehicles from Chinese manufacturer BYD and around 80 from German company Daimler Buses. The public transport company and Flemish Mobility minister Annick De Ridder announced the purchase on Wednesday.
The BYD order completes a 2023 framework agreement for 500 12-metre standard e-buses. The first BYD vehicles entered service in June, and the remainder will be delivered in phases from the second quarter of 2027. A De Lijn spokesperson said early operational experiences with the buses have been positive, prompting the latest order.
The contract with BYD had previously drawn criticism, as the company was chosen over local manufacturers such as Van Hool and VDL. Van Hool later went bankrupt, with VDL taking over its bus operations.
The Daimler order, meanwhile, is part of a new framework agreement for up to 500 buses, representing a potential investment of 303 million euros. The vehicles, of the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro type, are expected to enter service in the first quarter of 2027. The final number of buses will be confirmed at the end of this month, but more than 80 are likely to be delivered.
Emission-free by 2035
The combined order totals 185 million euros. With this purchase, De Lijn has ordered over 630 new electric buses in 2025, for a total value of 400 million euros. The company plans to buy around 200 electric buses annually over the next few years and aims to have a fully electrified, emission-free fleet by 2035.
Minister De Ridder highlighted the benefits of the expanded fleet. «We are pleased to see that De Lijn is ensuring the continuity of its greening operation through the new framework agreement,» she said. «Thanks to the 400 million ‘turbo’, De Lijn ordered over 630 new e-buses this year, modernised its offer and strengthened its service to travellers.»
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO MARC DIRIX
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