European bus fleet electrification gains momentum with retrofit study and new charging hubs

A study by Empa researcher Harald Desing suggests that retrofitting existing diesel buses to electric could accelerate the full electrification of Europe’s bus fleet by about 15 years, cutting emissions and resource use compared with buying new electric buses. The analysis, part of the EU CircEUlar project, finds that standard retrofit kits could replace diesel engines and gearboxes with battery packs in a few days, offering a technical and economic path that avoids the environmental impact of manufacturing new vehicles.

In Germany, the city of Ulm and its neighbour Neu‑Ulm are preparing infrastructure to support a shift toward electric buses. The local utility SWU plans to equip multiple bus termini with charging stations, aiming for roughly 70 % of all bus trips to be powered electrically. Construction is under way at several sites, with most facilities expected to be operational by the end of 2026 and full electrical rollout by mid‑2027. The project combines charging pads with bus‑turnaround loops to minimise downtime and maintain service levels during the transition.