Public transport in Copenhagen & Frederiksburg to be electric by the end of 2025

Copenhagen and Frederiksberg accelerate the deployment of e-buses – the complete transportation transition is to be accomplished by the end of 2025. To date, 13 lines in the Danish capital region have been electrified, and by the end of this year, it should be 22 lines. Another twelve lines could be converted by the end of 2025, so then 34 lines, or around 90% of bus traffic, will be emission-free.

“As mayor, I am proud that together with Frederiksberg we have now taken a decisive step towards clean and environmentally friendly bus transport in Copenhagen.” (Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, Mayor of Copenhagen)

In addition to the order for 31 Mercedes-Benz eCitaro announced in early November, the Danish transport company Vikingbus also received an order for 45 MAN Lion's City 12 E at the end of 2022, which are to be used on lines in the greater Copenhagen area. Delivery is to commence from spring 2023.

Farewell Diesel: Faster Conversion for the Last 10%

The concessions with the transport operator Movia for the five remaining bus lines operated with diesel buses 12, 21, 33, 37, and 78, do not expire until the years 2026 and 2029. To be able to electrify the bus lines more quickly, the two city administrations want to ask Movia to terminate the contracts prematurely.

The premature retirement of diesel buses and the procurement of the more expensive e-buses are to be sweetened with high compensation payments – the costs for Copenhagen are estimated to total 34 to 44 million DKK (4.6 to 5.9 million euros), for the city of Frederiksberg with 3.4 to 5 million DKK (460,000 to 670,000 euros).

Benefit for the environment – considering just the Danish capital alone, the early switch from diesel to electricity would save a total of around 17,000 tons of CO₂ per year.