#battery-electric-buses

#battery-electric-buses

The February 4, 2026 groundbreaking marks the start of construction of a relocated and rebuilt Renton Transit Center designed to serve Sound Transit's Stride S1 Bellevue-Burien line, local King County Metro services and the future RapidRide I Line, according to a press release issued by Sound Transit. This new Bus Rapid Transit 'Stride' line will truly knit our region together, bringing Renton the fast, reliable, and green transit service it has long deserved.

The vehicle supply contract was awarded to Iveco Bus shortly before Christmas. The press release does not specify the exact vehicle model ordered by LSE. However, given the reference to a Low-Entry configuration, the vehicles can reasonably be expected to belong to Iveco's Crossway LE Elec range, launched in 2023. The same model has been ordered in 200 units in Germany by the purchasing group "BusGruppe" in late 2024.

The Italian bus market closed 2025 with 4,112 registrations over 8 tonnes, including 1,230 zero-emission buses - equal to 30% of the total and up 20% year-on-year. Zero emission buses make over 65% of the city bus registrations. After the exceptional peak reached in 2024, the Italian bus market returned in 2025 to more structurally aligned volumes, while still confirming a historically solid level of demand. According to data processed by Italian trade media (and our sister platform) Autobusweb on the basis of Anfia registrations, the year ended with 4,112 new buses over 8 tonnes, down 15.8% compared with the previous year but well above long-term averages.

Italy registered 1,044 battery-electric buses in the first eleven months of 2025, reports our sister media Autobusweb based on data by ANFIA. They represent a 63.4% increase over 2024 and account for nearly 29% of all bus and coach registrations over 8 ton. From January to November, 3,629 buses above 8 tonnes were registered, down 11.8% year-on-year, yet the performance of the electric segment more than offsets the decline in other propulsion categories, reshaping procurement dynamics, especially in Class I fleets.

The programme includes the full replacement of the main zero-emission systems. Kreisel battery packs will be removed and substituted with a CATL configuration offering higher usable energy (which sounds new, as NewPower had initially announced Forsee Power as the provider of its battery modules). The driveline, axles and powertrain will be renewed, while HVAC will shift to a Grayson unit with heat-pump heating. Propulsion will be provided by a Voith (from November 1st: Driventic) electric drive system.