In what is a new milestone in making public transport in our region greener, the Flemish public transport company De Lijn’s 1,000th electric bus entered service on Wednesday. However, the number of depots where the electric buses can be charged is not keeping pace and this could slow down the introduction of more electric buses by De Lijn.
De Lijn aims to provide fully emission-free public transport within 10 years. By 2035, the Flemish public transport company aims to have 3,800 electric buses in its fleet. However, investing in vehicles alone won’t suffice. The tranition to a fully electric fleet requires adapted charging infrastructure, energy supply and maintenance.
Speaking earlier on Wednesday Annick De Ridder (nationalist) told journalists that “The number of depots that are equipped must keep pace so that all buses can be charged. This threatens to become a bottleneck issue”.
The Wissenhage site in the East Flemish city of Ghent covers 14 hectares. This would be enough space for at least 120 electric buses and trams. Plans for a depot there have been delayed for many years. Planning permission for a bus and tram depot at the Wissenhage site was overturned by the Council for Permit Disputes. This has meant that De Lijn must submit a new application, including a new environmental impact assessment.
There was also opposition to the plans from the local community. A bridge connecting the site to the city centre has been ready to accommodate trams for 15 years.
New electric buses on order
De Lijn ordered more than 650 new electric buses in 2025. They will enter services in phases during the coming years. “This will make our public transport more modern, reliable and comfortable for both passengers and drivers”, the Flemish Transport Minister said.
Depots are being equipped with software-controlled charging processes that make the work of drivers, planners and technicians easier. Last year, nearly 1,400 drivers received specific e-bus training and 176 technicians undertook additional training in electromechanics.
Electric buses require less traditional mechanical maintenance than diesel buses. Battery management and charging infrastructure are key components and maintenance is shifting towards prevention and monitoring.