Electric bus rollout stalls as diesel fleet returns amid charging failures
The transition to electric buses in the Netherlands is facing serious setbacks, with charging station failures, battery issues, and power grid congestion forcing the temporary return of diesel buses. Public transportation companies across the country report delays in electric bus deliveries, limited driving range, and inadequate charging infrastructure.
The challenges have resulted in hundreds of diesel buses being reintroduced to compensate for electric fleet shortages. “The road has slightly subsided, causing the pantograph to occasionally fail to make contact,” a spokesperson for bus operator EBS said about charging issues at Apeldoorn station.
The rollout of electric public transport has been far from smooth. Transportation companies are struggling with power grid congestion, delayed bus deliveries, and underperforming batteries. The cold weather in recent months has further reduced battery efficiency, exacerbating existing problems. “When buses need to be recharged, we often find that charging stations either don’t work at all or function only partially,” EBS stated.
Qbuzz, another public transport operator, reports similar issues. In Friesland, the company currently operates only 12 electric buses alongside 228 diesel buses due to power grid limitations. “We have applied for the necessary power connections to ensure we can achieve zero-emission operations in Fryslân by 2030,” a Qbuzz spokesperson said.
In Zuid-Holland, supply chain disruptions have forced Qbuzz to use diesel buses, with vehicle manufacturer Van Hool’s bankruptcy and late deliveries from Iveco contributing to the crisis.
Return of diesel buses
Delivery delays have become a recurring problem. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple transportation companies have received their electric buses late, forcing them to bring older diesel models back into service.
Arriva has managed to maintain electric operations where required but anticipates needing diesel buses in the Roosendaal region starting in December due to power grid congestion. “The power grid is simply overloaded,” the company said. As charging infrastructure in a new depot remains unusable, the company has no alternative but to use diesel buses.
EBS faces similar challenges in Flevoland. Buses are forced to recharge at Lelystad Airport and an industrial park before heading to transit hubs for service. “As a result, we need extra buses on the road, which means deploying 40 diesel buses,” the company said. Thirty-one of these replace electric buses that were supposed to arrive in 2023 but have not yet been delivered, while nine additional buses are needed due to charging limitations.
Passengers and environmental goals are both affected by these challenges. The frequent use of diesel buses leads to increased emissions, contradicting the Netherlands’ goal of achieving fully zero-emission public transport by 2030. The responsibility reportedly partly lies with provinces and regional transit authorities, which often require transport companies to operate emission-free fleets when granting service contracts. However, in a highly competitive industry, companies may overpromise on their ability to deliver, experts say.
Charging stations vary by location, adding to operational difficulties. “At some stations, the charging connection on the bus lowers, while in another city, the bus must raise a pantograph,” one industry source said. In other areas, charging stations frequently malfunction, and limited battery range reportedly makes it difficult to adjust schedules on the fly.
Some transportation companies are now taking a more cautious approach. “Under our contract, we are still allowed to operate a diesel fleet,” a Keolis spokesperson said. “We are transitioning to electric, but in consultation with the province of Utrecht, we are doing so gradually due to grid congestion.”
Transdev, which operates Connexxion and Hermes, says 40 percent of its fleet is now emission-free. “Where delays in the transition occur due to power grid congestion, we are implementing customized solutions, such as coordinating charging schedules with other stakeholders,” a company spokesperson said.
Not all transportation companies are struggling. HTM, which serves The Hague, reports a smoother transition. “Last year, we received our first electric buses. We tested them without passengers first, and since the beginning of this month, we have been operating one route with passengers,” an HTM spokesperson said. “We immediately monitored battery performance. It’s been an adjustment, but we can charge without issues.”
