Brussels public transport company STIB has placed an order for 36 electric buses to be ready for early 2026, continuing the electrification of its bus fleet that began in 2018.
STIB signed a framework agreement on Wednesday with German manufacturer Daimler Buses for standard low-floor all-electric buses (eCitaro), of which the board of directors gave the go-ahead to order 36 out of a potential 80 in advance.
The first vehicle from this order is expected to join STIB's fleet in early 2026, but before it carries the first passengers on the network, it will first be tested and used to train STIB staff. The buses will be loaded at a depot in Neder-Over-Heembeek and run on the lines served from this depot (56, 58, 83, etc.).
STIB had previously signed a framework contract with Daimler Buses for up to 70 longer electric buses, of which an initial order of 56 was placed in March. The first vehicle from that order should arrive in Brussels early next year, while the next 55 are due before the summer.
Those buses will replace the Euro 5 diesel buses that will no longer be allowed to operate in the low-emission zone (LEZ) from 2025. The company will soon order the remaining 14 buses as part of this order to reinforce the fleet.
"STIB is thus continuing the gradual electrification of its bus fleet that began in 2018, with a view to full electrification by 2035," STIB's spokesperson An Van hamme noted. Overall, STIB's network has 37 all-electric buses, of which 25 are longer buses.
