Lithuanian regional transport operators may apply for the funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) until 24 August. The financial incentive for the purchase of zero-emission public transport vehicles should complement the Lithuanian bus fleet with 230 new electric or hydrogen-fuelled buses by spring 2026 and ensure the installation of infrastructure for charging and refuelling them.
“Today, alternative fuel transport on the streets in Lithuania is becoming a more common phenomenon. We are pleased to provide a financial incentive to transport passengers in smaller cities and districts with greener public transport. This is one of our main goals. We want to encourage the wider use of public transport vehicles, increase their attractiveness and facilitate the elimination of polluting private cars in cities,” said Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis.
In total, EUR 60 million will be allocated to promote the purchase of electric and hydrogen-fuelled buses. Another EUR 6 million will be invested in building the infrastructure necessary for charging/refuelling zero-emission public transport vehicles: charging stations, pantographs, inductors, hydrogen fuelling stations.
The purchase of environmentally friendly vehicles is to be financed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan “New Generation Lithuania”, funded by the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility – NextGenerationEU.
Applications for subsidies for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles may be submitted by legal entities with whom public service contracts have been concluded to carry out passenger transport activities in those municipalities which did not prepare and implement sustainable urban mobility plans using funding from the Operational Programme for the European Union Funds’ Investments in 2014-2020.
This category includes 42 Lithuanian municipalities, i.e., Akmenė, Alytus, Anykščiai, Biržai, Ignalina, Joniškis, Jurbarkas, Kaišiadorys, Kaunas, Kelmė, Klaipėda, Kretinga, Kupiškis, Lazdijai, Molėtai, Pakruojis, Panevėžys, Pasvalys, Plungė, Prienai, Radviliškis, Raseiniai, Rokiškis, Skuodas, Šakiai, Šalčininkai, Šiauliai, Šilalė, Šilutė, Širvintos, Švenčionys, Trakai, Ukmergė, Varėna, Vilkaviškis, Vilnius and Zarasai districts, as well as the territories of Elektrėnai, Kalvarija, Kazlų Rūda, Pagėgiai and Rietavas.
Detailed information about funding can be found and applications for the tender may be submitted until 24 August here: Urban and suburban public transport fleet renewal to promote zero-emission vehicles | 2021-2027 EU investment website (esinvesticijos.lt)
By 2026, the Lithuanian bus fleet will be upgraded with electric and hydrogen buses not only in the 42 smaller municipalities. In the near future, the remaining 18 municipalities, both major and resort, will be able to benefit from the funds of the European Union investment programme for the period 2021-2027 for the implementation of sustainable mobility plans.
An additional funding of up to EUR 332.6 million will be allocated for the renewal of their public transport fleets, the development of recharging and/or refuelling infrastructure for alternative fuels, pedestrian and cycling paths and other measures foreseen in the sustainable urban mobility plans.
Specific decisions on the purchase of green public transport will be taken by the councils of the major and resort municipalities.
There are currently almost 8,000 M2 and M3 buses registered in Lithuania, almost 10% of which are powered by alternative fuels, i.e., 763 vehicles. There are a total of 476 electric buses and trolleybuses among the latter.
From 2026 onwards, all M2 and M3 buses purchased will have to be zero-emission buses. The target is for the number of alternative fuel buses in Lithuania to reach 4,000 by 2030, i.e., that every second bus running on the streets of the country would be environmentally friendly.
Please note that it is still possible to apply for another subsidy amounting to EUR 3.6 million for the installation of hydrogen fuelling stations in Lithuania. The tender ends on 18 July. The installation of hydrogen fuelling stations is also financed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan “New Generation Lithuania”, funded by the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility – NextGenerationEU. More information can be found here.
