Vilnius to become the first EBRD Green City in the Baltic states with modern trolleybus fleet

Vilnius to become the first EBRD Green City in the Baltic states with modern trolleybus fleet

(IN BRIEF) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a €38.23 million loan to Vilnius’ urban transport company, JSC Vilniaus viesasis transportas (VVT), to upgrade its trolleybus fleet to modern standards. The investment will help VVT purchase up to 91 modern battery-electric trolleybuses, reducing local air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative will also help Vilnius become the first EBRD Green City in the Baltic states, in keeping with its recent selection as one of the European Union’s Net Zero Cities. VVT is the 100% municipally owned operator of the city’s buses and trolleybuses. The EBRD has invested €1.3 billion in 117 projects in Lithuania to date.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 18-Apr-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a multilateral developmental investment bank, is providing a €38.23 million loan to JSC Vilniaus viesasis transportas (VVT), the urban transport company in Vilnius, to upgrade their trolleybus fleet to modern standards. The loan will be complemented by a €7.65 million concessional loan provided by the TaiwanICDF through the High-Impact Partnership for Climate Action (HIPCA).

The investment will allow VVT to purchase up to 91 modern battery-electric trolleybuses with -n-motion charging, enabling route flexibility and fully autonomous battery-electric driving for limited distances. The transition to an all-electric fleet of vehicles will enhance the quality, reliability, and accessibility of Vilnius trolleybus services while reducing local air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, avoiding 2,240 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

The investment will also enable Vilnius to join the EBRD’s flagship Green Cities programme, which supports cities’ transition to a greener future across all urban sectors. Vilnius will become the first EBRD Green City in the Baltic states and one of the European Union’s Net Zero Cities, aiming to achieve urban climate neutrality by 2030.

Susan Goeransson, Head of Infrastructure Europe in the EBRD’s Sustainable Infrastructure Group, said: “Vilnius is one of the largest cities and faster-growing capitals in the Baltic states and we are proud to support investments for more sustainable, accessible, inclusive and reliable urban transport in the city. This is a project of great significance as it will  tangibly improve the commuting experience of Vilnius residents and encourage more people to use public transport. We are also pleased to welcome Vilnius to our Green Cities network and support them in meeting their climate objectives. We hope this paves the way for other green cities in the region.”

Vilnius city Mayor Remigijus Šimašius said: “Vilnius has already renewed a large percentage of its buses. Now it is time to buy trolleybuses…[or] rather, electric buses that charge from the catenary cable and can run part of the route without direct contact with it. I am pleased that we already have bank financing and that the procurement procedures are being finalised. Soon, public transport will be even more attractive to passengers. We are also very happy that Vilnius will now form part of the EBRD Green Cities programme, which will enhance the city’s substantial green efforts of past years and will complement its ambitions to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 through the EU NetZeroCities programme.”

Darius Aleknavičius, CEO of VVT, said: “This project will enable VVT to purchase new electric-powered trolleybuses with battery technology for autonomous (off-grid) operations, with zero tailpipe emissions and with modern standards in terms of comfort, accessibility, speed and quality. As part of VVT’s programme of fleet modernisation, we are ready to replace all our ageing vehicles in the future, as well as increase our competitiveness in the market with the best price and running costs.”

VVT is the municipally owned operator of the city’s buses and trolleybuses on its urban and suburban networks. The EBRD has invested €1.3 billion in 117 projects in Lithuania to date.

Media contact:

Tel: +44 207 338 7805
Email: press@ebrd.com

SOURCE: EBRD