Austria allocates €80 million to support the purchase of zero emission buses

Austria has opened the eighth application period for its “Emissionsfreie Busse und Infrastruktur” (EBIN) program, designed to accelerate the transition of public transport fleets to zero-emission propulsion. The call for proposals is active from yesterday, September 3rd, until October 22, with a total budget of approximately €80 million.

The EBIN program provides support for both vehicles and the infrastructure required to operate them. Eligible investments include battery-electric buses, trolleybuses, and hydrogen fuel-cell buses. Infrastructure funding covers charging stations, overhead lines, and hydrogen refueling facilities, including associated third-party services. Funding covers up to 60% of the additional costs compared with conventional buses and the corresponding infrastructure expenses, states the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).

Zero emission buses in Austria, funding are coming

Applications must be submitted through FFG eCall system, where applicants are required to detail project scope and costs. Decisions on funding are expected roughly three months after the application period closes.

The program is part of the wider eBus initiative under the national eMove Austria framework, which aims to increase the share of zero-emission buses in public transport.

The FFG also highlights that “both public authorities and private operators running regional or long-distance passenger services are eligible to apply“.

The program is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by almost 16,000 tonnes annually, assuming a full-scale transition from fossil-fuel buses to electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles supplied with renewable energy.