Carbon dioxide emissions from transportation are projected to increase from 6-7 gigatonnes to 16-18 gigatonnes by 2050. Additionally, approximately 30% of Europeans reside in cities where air pollution levels exceed EU air quality standards. Conventional fuels burned by buses represent one of the largest sources of CO₂, nitrogen oxides, and particulate emissions.

In this context, the development of a sustainable public transport system is crucial. The implementation of zero-emission buses into fleets is now a priority for many urban centers around the world. Metropolises perceive the development of clean transport as an essential instrument to combat air pollution. According to data from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the total number of electric buses is projected to increase from 386,000 vehicles in 2017 to around 1.2 million vehicles in 2025. The share of electrified buses in the global fleet will reach 47%.

The advantages of zero-emission vehicles are increasingly recognized by cities worldwide, leading to a growing preference for their operation. More metropolises around the world are declaring their intention to transition to a fleet consisting exclusively of electric buses in the future. Since 2017, Shenzhen in China has exclusively featured zero-emission vehicles on its streets, boasting a fleet totaling 16,500 electric buses. Several metropolises have announced plans to only acquire zero-emission buses starting from 2025. Authorities in London, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Los Angeles, Quito, Mexico City, Vancouver, Seattle, Cape Town, and Auckland have adopted resolutions to this effect. Sustainable public transport is also being developed in Polish cities. According to the E-mobility Meter, there were more than 1,100 electric buses operating in Poland at the end of 2023.

The introduction of electric buses into service in European Union member states is supported by legal regulations. According to the “Climate and Energy Policy Framework to 2030,” at least 80% of the transport workload in public transport should be conducted using means of transport that do not rely on conventional fuels. Additionally, CO₂ emissions from the transport sector are targeted to be reduced by 40% by 2030.

The aim of the report produced by F5A is to analyze the possibilities and conditions for the introduction of electric buses into public transport services in both Polish and foreign cities, and to present experiences from measures taken for the purchase and operation of low- and zero-emission fleets. Examples from cities such as Bern, Bonn, Graz, Inowrocław, Jaworzno, Kraków, Lublin, Polkowice, Warsaw, and Zielona Góra are presented as models of good practice and are included in distinct chapters of the study.

The F5A study also includes extensive examples of best practices drawn from the experiences of companies participating in the public transport market. Poland is already one of the European leaders in green public transport, and we hope that this report will contribute to further development of zero- and low-emission fleets by the country’s operators.

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