Brussels local transport company MIVB launched the first all-electric buses on its routes on Monday. Line 53 was the first to welcome 3 buses from a fleet of 70 that will soon be deployed. ‘Our goal is fully to electrify our MIVB bus fleet by 2035,’ explains the operator’s Laurent Vermeersch.
The first all-electric buses will appear on line 53, between Military Hospital and Westland Shopping travelling via stops Basilica, Bockstael and De Wand.
‘We have ordered a total of 70 buses, most of which will be deployed during the current year,’ Mr Vermeersch says. After line 53, all-electric buses will also be deployed on lines 46, 87 and 89. ‘We won't be making one line completely electric just yet but will deploy electric buses on different routes to start off with.’
Initially, the plan was for more electric buses to be driving around by now, but due to the postponement of the LEZ (low emission) zone in Brussels, the MIVB was given more time to get everything in place and the latest buses are only now coming into service. Electric buses previously already ran on lines 33 and 64.
The buses are manufactured in Mannheim, Germany, by Mercedes. MIVB aims to be running an all-electric fleet by 2035.