Israel: From 2026, only electric buses will be procured

According to the online portal Electrive, the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection has set binding targets for public transport operators, stipulating that from 2026 onwards, only electric city buses may be procured. The guidelines also include interim targets. For instance, in just two years, by 2024, at least 30% of the buses purchased must be electric. For 2025, the authority has set a goal of at least 50% as per its governmental decision. By 2036, the entire public transport network in Israel is to be electrified.

High Emissions

According to the information, diesel-powered buses currently account for less than 1% of vehicles in the Hebrew state but emit 16% of the total nitrogen oxides and about 7% of the total soot particles from all vehicles. An electric bus would result in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 60 to 80%, according to the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection.