Electric buses can make cities more livable by improving air quality, reducing emissions and noise, and lowering operating costs over time. Yet adoption has been slow because of the high upfront costs of buses and charging infrastructure, along with uncertainty about financing models and responsibilities. Unlike conventional fleets, e-bus systems require investments in batteries, charging networks, and digital management systems, making electrification a broader transformation in how public transport is financed, managed, and operated. Ensuring a future of well-funded public transport based around e-buses is a key component of ITDP’s strategic vision.

Despite growing investor interest in zero-emission mobility, much climate finance still favors private vehicle electrification, leaving a significant funding gap for public transport. However, declining technology costs, new business models, and policy priorities around energy security, industrial development, and job creation are making e-bus projects increasingly attractive to private investors.