E-buses are experiencing extraordinary growth worldwide, thanks to government incentives, infrastructure investments, and rising environmental awareness. In Cagliari, no less than 32 new electric buses will arrive by the end of the year; meanwhile, a $100 million investment in India will further boost the spread of e-buses, confirming the trend toward decarbonization in public transportation.
The city of Cagliari is embracing the future of sustainable mobility by adding 32 new e-bus to the CTM fleet by December 2025, raising the number of electric vehicles to 151, amounting to 43% of the fleet. The goal for 2030 is a fully green fleet. The new buses are Solaris Urbino 18E models (18 meters long) and Otokar e-KENT C (12 meters), equipped with advanced technology for safety, comfort, and efficiency, including USB charging and video surveillance systems. The addition of these e-buses allows for an immediate increase in transport capacity without the need for new infrastructure and will strengthen the strategic BRT service between Cagliari and Quartu Sant’Elena, thus improving urban quality of life.
E-bus Growth in Italy
Between January and August 2025, 674 electric buses were registered in Italy—over 100% growth compared to the previous year. The share of new zero-emission vehicles is increasing steadily thanks to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and incentives for ecological transformation in public transport. While the domestic market grows slightly slower than in other European countries, the trend toward replacing diesel vehicles is now underway, also driven by EU regulations requiring drastic emission reductions by 2030.
India and Multimillion-Dollar Investments
India stands out for its $100 million investment in e-buses as part of a broad strategy to transition public transport. The recent procurement of 550 e-buses —including 50 interurban models with a range over 325 km and 500 urban models with a range of 225 km—signals a major shift in Asian mobility and anticipates even bolder actions, such as the planned deployment of over 10,000 e-buses in 100 cities in the coming years. The spread of electric buses in India directly contributes to cutting CO2 emissions, in a country where public transport, though accounting for only 1% of the national fleet, generates about 15% of the country’s transport emissions.
The transition to electric public transportation is now a global movement, guided by environmental benefits and the need to make cities more livable. In 2024, 49% of urban buses sold in Europe were electric, accelerating beyond regulatory forecasts. The growth of electric vehicles is setting the stage for the sector to meet climate neutrality goals by 2035 and is significantly helping to reduce urban emissions.
