In three European countries zero emission buses covered over 2/3 of the total bus and coach market in 2024
2024 marked a historic turning point for public transport in Europe: for the first time ever, battery-electric buses outsold diesel (including hybrid) models in the final quarter of the year. In three European countries, such as Luxembourg, Finland and Denmark zero emission buses covered over two thirds of the total bus and coach market. This […]
2024 marked a historic turning point for public transport in Europe: for the first time ever, battery-electric buses outsold diesel (including hybrid) models in the final quarter of the year.
In three European countries, such as Luxembourg, Finland and Denmark zero emission buses covered over two thirds of the total bus and coach market.
This shift in the electric bus market is highlighted by the International Council of Clean Transportation in a report showing that 35,000 buses and coaches were sold in Europe last year, with 6,000 (17%) being zero-emission vehicles. The figure differs from the 7.7K BEV buses counted by consulting DVV Media, and this should be partially due to the fact that ICCT considers EU27 while DVV includes UK in the sum-up. Another difference is the vehicles pool: ICCT embraces buses over 3.5 ton, DVV over 8 tons.
According to ICCT’s calculations, the share of zero emission buses on the total registrations of buses and coaches grew in 2024 from 16 to 17% (4,500 ZE buses were registered in 2023).
At the same time, registrations of zero emission city buses grew 33% according to ICCT, while the overall market for buses and coaches grew by 31% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Zero emission bus registrations 2024, according to ICCT
As mentioned in the opening, a historic milestone was reached in Q4 2024, as battery-electric bus sales surpassed those of diesel (including hybrid) buses for the first time. This shift underscores the growing dominance of zero-emission solutions in urban public transportation.
Breaking down the sales of zero-emission buses and coaches in the EU-27, Germany had 732 units sold in 2024, with a slight decline from 811 in 2023. Italy, however, experienced significant growth, with 1,047 zero-emission buses sold, a threefold increase from 349 in 2023 based on ICCT figures: the country was the largest e-bus market in 2024 when considering EU27 (without UK). Other notable markets include France (661 units), the Netherlands (409 units), and Sweden (251 units). In terms of market share, Luxembourg stood out, with 76% of its new buses being zero-emission, followed by Finland (83%) and Denmark (68%).
