Verkehrsbetrieb Potsdam (ViP) has terminated its contract with Ebusco for 23 battery-electric buses after repeated delivery delays, adding to the Dutch manufacturer’s ongoing challenges in fulfilling vehicle orders.
ViP awarded Ebusco the contract in late 2023 for 10 12-metre Ebusco 3.0 electric buses and 13 articulated 18-metre versions. The first 12-metre buses were originally scheduled for delivery in March 2025, followed by the articulated vehicles two months later.
However, none of the 23 buses had been delivered by the time ViP terminated the agreement on July 29. The transport operator said Ebusco had repeatedly postponed delivery dates, most recently indicating that the vehicles would not arrive until spring 2027.
Ebusco Disputes Contract Termination
ViP said it decided to terminate the contract with immediate effect because Ebusco was unable to provide a reliable delivery schedule.
The dispute is not yet resolved. Ebusco is contesting the termination and said it is assessing the potential financial consequences. The manufacturer said the two parties had recently discussed delivery schedules and related commercial conditions.
Ebusco also noted that ViP had reserved the right to pursue potential claims against the company. The manufacturer plans to provide a detailed statement on August 14, when it is scheduled to publish its half-year results.
Potsdam Launches New Electric Bus Tender
The cancellation represents another setback for the electrification of Potsdam’s public transport fleet.
ViP still intends to procure 23 battery-electric buses and has already launched a new tender. The technical specifications are largely based on those used in the 2023 procurement, allowing the operator to move towards a replacement contract relatively quickly.
However, it remains uncertain when the replacement buses will enter service in Potsdam.
The original procurement was budgeted at €17.4 million. Meanwhile, work to prepare ViP’s depot has also fallen behind schedule.
The depot project includes replacing an existing parking facility and installing overhead charging infrastructure that would allow the electric buses to charge using pantographs. A separate procurement dispute has raised doubts over whether the infrastructure work can be completed by 2026.
Ebusco Faces Broader Delivery Challenges
The Potsdam dispute adds to Ebusco’s broader delivery and financial challenges. The Dutch manufacturer has been dealing with financial difficulties and a substantial order backlog, contributing to delays in fulfilling vehicle contracts.
Other German public transport operators have also been waiting for Ebusco vehicles for extended periods.
The Potsdam case is separate from structural problems recently identified in Ebusco 2.2 buses operated by Berlin’s BVG. ViP ordered the newer Ebusco 3.0 model, which uses a composite-material body.
The cancellation nevertheless highlights the difficulties facing operators seeking to accelerate fleet electrification while manufacturers continue to contend with production, financial and supply-chain pressures.