Belgian public transport operator De Lijn has placed a €24.2 million ($26 million) order for electric bus charging stations from SPIE-Ekoenergetyka, the company announced on Wednesday, as part of its broader plan to electrify all 50 of its bus depots.
The investment will fund between 600 and 900 charging stations with capacities ranging from 50 to 180 kW, with the exact distribution dependent on the progress of infrastructure upgrades at various depots, according to De Lijn.
See also: De Lijn Orders 32 More Electric Articulated Buses from Iveco
The contract follows a framework agreement signed in November 2023, under which De Lijn plans to procure up to 1,600 charging stations from SPIE-Ekoenergetyka and ABB over an eight-year period.
“Charging infrastructure is a vital part of greening the fleet,” said Ann Schoubs, CEO of De Lijn. “By 2035, we want to offer completely emission-free public transport. This order ensures that we will be able to charge all e-buses at our depots.”
De Lijn has been transitioning to low- and zero-emission buses since 2019. The company has ordered 23 electric buses from Iveco, 100 from Irizar, and up to 500 from BYD this year, in line with Flanders’ goal to achieve emission-free public transport by 2035.
See also: De Lijn Receives First Batch of Electric Buses from VDL for Ghent Region
Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder emphasized the importance of investing in charging infrastructure, stating, “We are pleased to allocate €24.2 million to support these critical, albeit less visible, investments.”
