The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a €70 million (US$82.3 million) loan for Dutch public transport operator Qbuzz to support the deployment of 275 battery-electric buses and the expansion of charging infrastructure in the Dutch province of Zuid-Holland.
The financing will be matched by an equivalent funding package from Société Générale, providing additional capital to help develop one of the largest battery-electric bus fleets in the Netherlands.
Financing Supports Fleet Electrification
The new buses will operate under the Zuid-Holland Noord public transport concession, serving cities including Leiden, Alphen aan den Rijn, and Gouda.
They will replace conventional diesel buses, helping reduce carbon dioxide emissions from regional bus services while encouraging greater use of public transport over private vehicles.
The financing also includes investment in depot charging infrastructure, including the installation of high-capacity electricity grid connections needed to support the larger electric fleet.
According to the EIB, the project will contribute to the decarbonisation of the transport sector while strengthening Europe’s energy independence.
Expanding Zero-Emission Public Transport
Qbuzz said its electrification program has attracted international interest, with delegations from several European countries as well as Japan, Kenya, and India visiting the Netherlands to study its zero-emission bus operations.
The operator has been part of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane since 2017 and provides both bus and rail services across multiple regions of the Netherlands.
According to the company, it transported more than 112 million passengers during 2025.
Building on Previous Investments
Qbuzz has steadily expanded its electric bus fleet in recent years, including the addition of battery-electric buses supplied by Chinese manufacturer Yutong.
The company previously cited supply disruptions affecting European manufacturers, including production delays at Iveco and the insolvency of Van Hool, as factors influencing its procurement strategy.
Alongside battery-electric vehicles, Qbuzz is also investing in the use of green hydrogen to further reduce emissions across its public transport operations.
