Vilnius orders 145 new electric buses

Vilniaus viešasis transportas (VVT), the public transport operator active in Vilnius, is inviting tenders for the procurement of 145 electric buses. Electric vehicles are to be purchased in four sizes with lengths of eight, ten, twelve and 18 metres. The contract is to be awarded in the third quarter of 2025 and the vehicles are to be put into operation in 2026 and 2027.

The city council of Vilnius is pursuing an ambitious plan for sustainable mobility and aims to have all public transport vehicles running on electricity or alternative fuels by 2030. However, the 145 electric buses that have now been put out to tender are not only intended to replace old diesel buses, but also to help expand the Lithuanian capital’s public transport network and speed up the frequency of services.

“Vilnius public transport is rapidly modernising – new electric buses will provide more sustainable and efficient mobility for the city. Less pollution, quieter commutes and greater comfort, these are the changes expected by Vilnius residents,” commented Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas. “Investment in this area is our clear direction striving for cleaner and more innovative city.” In future, citizens will enjoy more frequent, faster and more reliable connections.

Specifically, the VVT route network will be expanded by seven new routes in parallel with the renewal of the vehicle fleet. In addition, 44 routes are to be made more frequent and 46 otherwise adapted. As a result, public transport will run every 6 to 10 minutes in the city centre and every 15 minutes outside the city centre. The total number of vehicles will also be increased by 30 per cent.

The city council estimates the total value of the new e-bus procurement at EUR 89 million (excluding VAT); if the obligatory maintenance services to be added to this figure are calculated, the result is around EUR 97 million. The contracts with the successful bidders are to be signed in the third quarter of the year. The new zero-emission buses are then expected to arrive in Vilnius in 2026 and 2027.

Many trolleybuses also run in parallel in the Lithuanian capital. Battery trolleybuses are also increasingly being used there, as in 2023 VVT commissioned the Skoda Group to supply 91 Skoda 32 Tr trolleybuses, all of which have now arrived, according to the city administration. “Currently, 75 new trolleybuses are already transporting passengers in Vilnius, and the remaining 16 will soon be on the routes as soon as the passenger information and safety systems have been completed and all registration formalities have been finalised,” reads an accompanying press release.

Thanks to the batteries on board, the Škoda 32 Tr can travel autonomously for up to 20 kilometres independently of overhead lines. With the integration of the 91 units, Vilnius says it has completed the first phase of the renewal of its trolleybus fleet. A further 73 new trolleybuses are now to be purchased in a second phase.

VVT’s ambition in the field of e-mobility is no coincidence. The Lithuanian government is actively promoting the procurement of electric buses and associated charging infrastructure.

delfi.lt, vilnius.lt (in Lithuanian)