Connected Infrastructure for Electric Buses – 3rd Edition

The number of battery-electric buses has grown significantly in the last years. Berg Insightestimates that the number of electric buses in Europe and North America increased from about1,000 in 2016 to around 31,000 in 2024. The growing fleets of electric buses have created newchallenges for public transport operators and agencies. Limited driving range and the need tointegrate charging stations have expanded the demand for intelligent transport systems (ITS)that bring together all the necessary infrastructure, including electric buses, charging stationsand depots. The term ITS refers to information and communications technology applied totransport infrastructure and vehicles. Berg Insight’s definition of ITS for public transport for thepurpose of this report includes systems for communication between dispatchers and vehicleoperators, automatic vehicle locator systems and automated dispatching systems. Otherassociated back-office IT systems are also part of the definition, including depot management,driver monitoring, scheduling and planning tools for vehicles and personnel, vehiclemaintenance and charging station management software.

Berg Insight is of the opinion that the market for ITS solutions for electric buses is in a growthphase which will last for several years to come. Mega-challenges such as urbanisation, climatechange and traffic congestion continue to encourage investments in electric buses and ITS,contributing to a positive outlook for the market. The increased energy prices following Russia’sinvasion of Ukraine and the supply chain issues following the COVID-19 pandemic have hadlimited adverse effect on the electrification of public transport. The total market value of publictransport ITS for electric buses in Europe is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growthrate (CAGR) of 27 percent from € 110.4 million in 2024 to reach € 359.1 million by 2029. Vehicleand driver monitoring software as well as vehicle gateways are together estimated to account for€ 30.7 million of the market value in 2024, while the corresponding number for charging stationmanagement software is € 21.5 million. In North America, the total market value of ITS solutionsfor electric buses is forecasted to grow slower at a CAGR of 21 percent from € 39.7 million in2024 to reach € 101.6 million in 2029. The US administration has reduced its support for thetransition to electric transportation which is expected to affect growth in the US in the comingyears. Vehicle and driver monitoring software and vehicle gateways are estimated to account for€ 10.5 million of the market value in 2024, while the corresponding number for charging stationmanagement software is € 7.9 million.

Some ITS players offer complete turnkey solutions including functionality for most of the ITSapplications for electric buses utilised by public transport operators, but many vendors on themarket are also specialised ITS players focusing on a few subsystems. Major international ITS players such as INIT, IVU, Trapeze and Clever Devices can provide complete turnkey solutions.IVU has customers mainly in Europe, while Clever Devices, INIT and Trapeze have strongerpresence in North America. EQUANS is also a major global player and its CAD/AVL systemshave been installed on electric buses both in Europe and North America. ViriCiti has been oneof the leading telematics providers for electric buses, before it was acquired by ChargePoint inAugust 2021. The company now offers hardware and software for the management of buses andcharging stations under the ChargePoint brand, which additionally has a comprehensiveportfolio of charging hardware and software. Other important providers serving public transportcompanies with different types of solutions for electric buses include the Scandinaviancompanies Consat Telematics, FARA and Saga Tenix. The Canadian company GIRO is animportant player in the scheduling and planning segment, while PSI Transcom is a prominentprovider of depot and charging management software in Europe.

Most of the bus OEMs on the market offer conventional telematics solutions, but the strategiesin the area of electric bus specific solutions vary between the players. The European market forelectric buses is served by a variety of manufacturers. The Chinese company Yutong reachedthe highest number of registrations in 2024, followed by Mercedes-Benz, Wrightbus, Iveco Bus,BYD, Solaris and Traton Group. In North America, New Flyer holds a dominant position and othernotable players include Gillig, Phoenix Motor, BYD and Nova Bus.

Charging stations play a significant role in the electrification of bus fleets. Berg Insight estimatesthat the charging station market value for buses in Europe and North America is estimated tohave reached over €_500 million in 2024. Growing at a CAGR of 24 percent, the total marketvalue is expected to reach €_1.5 billion in 2029. A group of vendors have emerged as leaders onthe market for bus chargers. Examples of major charging station providers in the market for buscharging include ABB E-mobility, BTC Power, Camber, Efacec, Ekoenergetyka, IES Synergy,Kempower, SBRS (Shell Group) and Siemens (together with Heliox).