Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has set the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2030. To achieve this, public transport operator Vilniaus Viešasis Transportas (VVT) is continuously expanding its electric fleet. The order for the procurement of 145 electric buses was awarded already in 2025, supported by €55 million of EU funding for the purchase of a total of 275 electric buses.
€110 million loan from EIB and CEB for zero-emission buses and charging infrastructure
Now, a loan of 110 million euros is giving new impetus to the expansion of public transport in Vilnius. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) are each contributing €55 million to the financing package, which will be used for the acquisition of an additional 161 new electric and hydrogen buses, as well as the expansion of associated charging infrastructure.
According to the EIB, this will create one of the largest zero-emission bus fleets in the Baltic region in this city of 600,000 inhabitants. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027. VVT plans to build 145 new charging stations and modernize existing depots. Older diesel and liquefied petroleum gas vehicles will be phased out. The deployment of the new buses is not only intended to reduce smog and noise in Vilnius, but also to improve passenger comfort.
“Vilnius demonstrates how European cities can translate their climate goals into tangible improvements for their citizens,” says EIB Vice-President Karl Nehammer. “Together with the Council of Europe Development Bank, we are helping to create cleaner buses, better public transport and a healthier urban environment for hundreds of thousands of people.”
VVT Board Chairman Ignas Degutis expresses his gratitude: “This financing allows us to implement one of the most ambitious public transport modernization programs in VVT’s history. We sincerely thank the EIB and the CEB for their trust and partnership. Together, we are investing in 161 zero-emission buses and the infrastructure necessary to operate them reliably, creating cleaner, quieter and more comfortable journeys for the residents of Vilnius.”
The loan package is part of an even broader modernization initiative: in addition to the EIB and the ECB, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) are also involved in further expansion and renewal measures. For the first time, four international partners are jointly financing an infrastructure project in the Baltic region.
www.eib.org
