Vilnius public transport operator Vilniaus Viešasis Transportas (VVT) has secured €110 million in financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) to expand its zero-emission bus fleet and charging infrastructure. The funding will support the procurement of 161 electric and hydrogen buses as Lithuania’s capital works towards its climate-neutrality target for 2030.
The EIB and CEB are each contributing €55 million to the financing package. The project also includes plans to install 145 new charging stations and modernise existing depots, with completion scheduled for the end of 2027.
According to the EIB, the expansion will help Vilnius, a city of around 600,000 residents, establish one of the largest zero-emission bus fleets in the Baltic region. Older diesel and liquefied petroleum gas buses will be phased out as the new vehicles enter service.
Continued Fleet Electrification
The latest investment builds on VVT’s existing electrification programme. In 2025, the operator awarded an order for 145 electric buses, supported by €55 million in EU funding as part of a wider plan to acquire 275 electric buses.
The additional vehicles and infrastructure are intended to reduce air pollution and traffic noise while improving passenger comfort and public transport services.
EIB Vice-President Karl Nehammer said the project demonstrates how European cities can translate climate targets into practical improvements for residents.
VVT Chairman of the Board Ignas Degutis said the financing would support one of the operator’s most ambitious public transport modernisation programmes, combining 161 zero-emission buses with the infrastructure needed for reliable operations.
Four International Lenders Support Modernisation
The EIB and CEB financing forms part of a broader programme involving the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB), which are supporting additional expansion and renovation measures.
According to the project announcement, the initiative marks the first time these four international financial institutions have jointly financed an infrastructure project in the Baltic region.
The investment is intended to accelerate the transition away from fossil-fuel-powered public transport while supporting Vilnius’s longer-term climate and urban mobility objectives.