STIB to put first of 70 new electric buses into service in September
Brussels public transport operator STIB has received the first bus from an order for a total of 70 articulated fully electric buses. The vehicle was presented on Wednesday at the Marly depot in Neder-Over-Heembeek, which is being expanded and redesigned to eventually accommodate only fully electric buses.
CEO Brieuc de Meeûs said the new electric buses would enable the company to retire the last of its vehicles that do not meet the Euro 5 emission standard by 1 January 2025. This transition is crucial as the Brussels low-emission zone is being tightened.
"By 2035, all our 850 buses must be replaced by fully electric ones," de Meeûs said. "With this order, we are now at nearly a tenth of that goal."
The new bus is a Mercedes-Benz eCitaro, costing 820,000 euros. In the coming weeks, it will undergo testing at the Marly depot, with plans to enter service in the second half of September. By the end of this year, another 55 buses will follow, with the remaining buses being delivered gradually until 2026.
The buses have a range of 200km, which falls short of a full day’s service. As a result, they will need to charge at the terminuses where STIB is installing charging masts. Most of the necessary redevelopment work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.
The electrification of depots is also a priority. While the Haren and Jacques Brel depots are already partially electrified, the Marly depot is set to become fully electric, ultimately expanding to accommodate more than 200 electric buses.
Currently, STIB operates 37 fully electric buses, including five minibuses, in the city centre. The new buses will be deployed on several lines in the city.
© BELGA PHOTO / VIDEO LOU LAMPAERT
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