Europe’s City Bus Market Has Crossed the Tipping Point: Zero-Emission Buses Reach 60% of New Registrations in 2025

 The European city bus market has officially crossed a historic threshold. In 2025, 60% of all newly registered urban buses in the European Union were zero-emission vehicles, marking a decisive shift from transition to dominance. Even more striking, battery-electric buses accounted for roughly 56%, while hydrogen fuel-cell buses made up the remaining share.

This milestone confirms that zero-emission city buses are no longer a future ambition or pilot-project technology—they are now the mainstream solution for urban public transport. With current momentum, analysts suggest that Europe could reach a fully zero-emission city bus market as early as 2028.

From Momentum to Market Dominance

Only a few years ago, electric buses were considered a niche product, limited to demonstration fleets and early-adopter cities. That perception has now changed fundamentally.

In 2024, zero-emission buses already represented 49% of new city bus registrations in the EU.

In 2025, this figure jumped to 60%, an increase of more than 10 percentage points in a single year.

Such growth is exceptional in any heavy-duty vehicle segment and highlights that the sector has passed a classic technology inflection point. Once this stage is reached, adoption typically accelerates rather than slows.

Battery-Electric Buses Lead the Transition

Although hydrogen fuel-cell buses continue to play a role, the data clearly shows that battery-electric buses (BEBs) are the backbone of Europe’s zero-emission transition.

This dominance is driven by several structural advantages:

Lower total cost of ownership (TCO) in urban duty cycles

Depot-based charging, which simplifies infrastructure compared to public fast-charging networks

High energy efficiency, particularly in stop-and-go city operation

Maturing supply chains for batteries, power electronics, and electric drivetrains

As a result, many cities now view battery-electric buses as the default option, with hydrogen reserved for specific use cases such as very long routes or cold-climate operations.

Surprising Leaders: Not Only the Wealthiest Countries

One of the most remarkable aspects of the 2025 data is which countries are leading the transition.

Several EU member states have already reached—or nearly reached—100% zero-emission city bus registrations, including:

Bulgaria

Denmark

Estonia

Latvia

Slovenia

In addition, countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Lithuania, Romania, and Luxembourg report shares above 90%.

This proves that success is not solely dependent on national wealth. Instead, it reflects:

Clear public procurement strategies

Stable regulatory frameworks

Well-planned depot and grid infrastructure

Strong coordination between municipalities, operators, and manufacturers

Why City Buses Electrify Faster Than Other Vehicles

City buses are uniquely positioned to lead Europe’s decarbonisation of transport:

Centralised procurement

Public authorities can directly steer technology choices through tenders.

Predictable operation

Fixed routes, known daily mileage, and depot parking make energy planning easier.

Local air-quality pressure

Cities face immediate political and social pressure to reduce noise and emissions.

Regulatory alignment

EU policies increasingly link public funding to clean vehicle adoption.

Together, these factors make the city bus segment the fastest-moving heavy-duty vehicle category in Europe’s energy transition.

Is 100% Zero-Emission by 2028 Realistic?

According to Transport & Environment and other policy analysts, yes—under the right conditions.

Key enablers include:

Continued enforcement of the Clean Vehicles Directive in public procurement

Investment in depot charging infrastructure and grid upgrades

Standardisation of charging interfaces, software platforms, and battery warranties

Strong industrial capacity within Europe to avoid supply bottlenecks

The main risk is no longer vehicle availability, but infrastructure and permitting timelines, particularly grid connections at large depots.

Implications for Manufacturers, Suppliers, and Operators

For bus manufacturers

Competition is shifting from “who can deliver an electric bus” to:

Energy efficiency

Thermal management performance

Winter operation capability

Software and fleet-level energy optimisation

For system suppliers

Battery thermal management, heat pumps, intelligent HVAC control, power-electronics cooling, and OTA diagnostics are becoming key differentiators.

For operators

Operational KPIs are changing:

From fuel consumption to kWh/km

From engine maintenance to battery state-of-health (SOH)

From refuelling logistics to charging window management

Conclusion: 60% Is Not the End—It’s the Beginning

The fact that six out of every ten new city buses in Europe are now zero-emission signals a permanent transformation of urban mobility. The shift from diesel to electric is no longer a question of if, but how fast and how well it can be executed.

If current trends continue, the European city bus market could become fully zero-emission before the end of this decade, setting a global benchmark for sustainable public transport.