Potsdam announces order for Ebusco’s 23 electric buses
Potsdam Transport Company (ViP) has unilaterally terminated a contract for 23 electric buses with Ebusco. The reason is the ongoing delivery delays by the Dutch manufacturer. ViP is already preparing to issue a new tender, but Ebusco disputes the termination.
Potsdam Public Transport Company (ViP)’s patience with Ebusco appears to be running out. At the end of 2023, ViP awarded a contract for ten 12-meter-long Ebusco-3.0 buses and 13 18-meter-long articulated buses of the Ebusco 3.0 type. The first single-axle buses were originally scheduled to arrive in March 2025, with the articulated buses following two months later. So far, none of the 23 electric buses have been delivered. According to ViP, Ebusco has repeatedly postponed the delivery dates. The most recent estimate was a delivery by spring 2027. Since Ebusco still failed to confirm a reliable delivery date, ViP announced the extraordinary termination of the contract on July 29.
The process is not entirely concluded yet. Ebusco disputes the termination and is assessing its potential financial consequences according to its own statements. The manufacturer reported that the parties had recently exchanged views on the delivery schedule and related commercial terms. According to Ebusco, VIP has also reserved potential claims against the manufacturer. Ebusco plans to submit a detailed statement by August 14, after which the company will also release its half-yearly financial results.
The cancellation represents another setback for electrifying Potsdam’s bus fleet. VIP remains committed to acquiring 23 battery-electric buses and is already preparing a new tender. Since the specifications are intended to be largely based on those of the 2023 tender, the company hopes for a prompt reissuance. It is currently unclear when the replacement vehicles will actually be able to be deployed in Potsdam.
Even before the cancellation, the project was already significantly behind schedule. A total investment of 17.4 million euros had been planned at the time to acquire the 23 electric buses. Meanwhile, the renovation of the Potsdam depot is also delayed. There, an existing storage facility is set to be replaced and equipped with overhead charging technology so that the buses can be charged using pantographs. Due to a procurement dispute, completion of this part of the project by 2026 is now in doubt as well.
The developments in Potsdam are part of the long-known delivery problems at Ebusco. The Dutch manufacturer is struggling with financial difficulties and a large backlog of orders it can only process slowly. Other German transit agencies have also been waiting for ordered vehicles for some time. However, the Potsdam incident has nothing to do with the cracks in Ebusco 2.2 vehicles that recently caused a stir at BVG in Berlin. VIP ordered the newer Ebusco 3.0 series with a body made of composite materials.