Abstract:

The “Clean Vehicles Directive” (CVD) of the European Union sets binding minimum targets for the first time for the purchase of new low-emission and CO 2 -free buses in local public transport. All member states have to transpose the directive into national law by August 2nd. For most countries, the same quotas apply as for Germany: 45 percent “clean vehicles” in the reference period from August 2021 to 2025 and 65 percent to 2030. With clean vehicles, the CVD means buses that do without diesel. The use of gas buses or synthetic fuels is also possible. However, the trend is clearly towards the electric bus. According to the CVD, at least half of all new clean buses must also be battery, trolley or fuel cell vehicles. The main challenge lies in the financing.