With more and more metropolitan areas targeting zero-emission environments, an increasing number of cities, transport authorities and operators are considering a fully electric solution for their urban bus network.
In this context, this onsite diploma programme designed on Electric Buses offering a comprehensive overview of the electric solution for urban bus networks: from the setting of a long-term city strategy in terms of energy transition to the definition of a charging strategy and the choice of technology and all the way to the planning, procurement, operation, and maintenance of the e-bus system.
The aim of this training is to give a clear idea about different phases of electric bus in the life cycle. Wide knowledge and information will be shared in the chosen specific topics.
Who is it for?
Decision makers, top management from PTAs, PTOs, Governments, Local Governments, Municipalities who wants to know how to drive policy and how to implement electric bus solutions.
Project managers, engineers, and other professionals eager to learn more about the technology, the implementation, and the running of electric buses.
Those who want to be informed about electric bus, technology, markets, procurement and tendering, business model, planning, operations, and maintenance for e-bus.
Staff from public transport operators or authorities planning to extend a fully electric solution to the core part of the urban bus network.
All staff from all levels from related organisations and stakeholders.
What You Will Learn
Get a general overview of electric bus deployment for urban bus operations.
Introduce the electric solution, the different types of technologies and compare their benefits and drawbacks.
Explore the products on offer and the mainstream technology options available, competition, and maturity level of the suppliers.
Learn how to develop an operational and charging strategy.
Assess the implications for operations and infrastructure.
Review about procurements steps and benchmarking with different solutions.
Discover how to manage e-bus operations with the use of IT technology.
September | October | November 2025
The Electric Bus Diploma Programme will take place in July, September and November 2025. It is an expert-level year-long course composed of three modules taking place in three different cities.
Module 1: Fundamentals of Electric Bus, 8-10 July 2025, Hamburg (Germany) – Local Host: Hamburg Hochbahn
Module 2: Planning and Implementation, 23-25 September 2025, Brussels (Belgium) – Local Host: STIB-MIVB
Module 3: Operation and Maintenance, 18-20 November 2025, Madrid (Spain) – Local Host: EMT Madrid
Programme
Module 1: Fundamentals of Electric Bus – BRUSSELS: Welcome – Introduction to the course and Expectation Analysis
09:00–09:45
Session 1
What is an electric bus and how can electric buses contribute to making public transport networks competitive and our cities sustainable. What are the drivers and barriers when it comes to the choice of technology. How can it affect institutional organisations and governance in a city.
Break
11:00–11:30
Session 2
This session will investigate infrastructure and technologies used to run electric buses, whether it be the installation and running of charging infrastructure, the impact on information technology systems, driver assistance and standardisation of the connection. Each charging technology has its own advantages and needs to be chosen according to the specific condition of each project. This session includes:
An insight into vehicles (battery, plus-in hybrid, trolley, fuel cell) and infrastructure (overnight and opportunity charging, types of pantographs, in-motion charging).
Pros and cons of charging type and technology.
State of the market from industry perspective.
Effect of IT systems on E-bus operations.
Updated electric bus product overview: latest models and trends.
Global trends and figures of e-bus deployment.
Driveline – Batteries – auxiliary components and HVAC – technology and maintenance – infrastructure costs.
Lunch
13:00–14:00
Session 3
What are the policy drivers to implement e-bus solutions. Climate change, global warming, pollution is one of the critical aspects. Finance and political ambitions are the other drives that decisions can be based on.
The policy context and city strategies for the introduction of electric buses.
Effects of GHS and Climate change.
Financials aspects to lower the cost of operations.
Break
15:30–16:00
Session 4
Worldwide overview of trolleybus systems, in numbers and pictures.
Place and role of trolleybus in Public Transport system, within the modes hierarchy and within the zero-emission bus family.
Trolleybus champions league (Salzburg, Mexico, Beijing and Zürich).
New developments with battery modes.
Trolleybus and demonstrations have contributed to this success and in recent years, new technological advances, In Motion Charging.
Why is In Motion Charging the most energy efficient road vehicle and most effective e-BRT solution.
The normative landscape of trolleybus as a vehicle, international panorama and contrasts.
Session 5
Deployment of e-bus is not an easy task and needs a systematic approach by considering many parametres. One of them is doing a life cycle cost analysis, LCC, to calculate total cost of ownership, TCO for different options. With LCC analysis every cost drive, such as vehicle acquisition cost, operational cost, maintenance cost and other costs including financial, insurance, licensing, administrations etc. in each phase of the project taken into accounts to calculate the total cost at the end of economic lifetime of e-bus system. Calculating TCO for different options and conditions gives ability to decision makers to analyse and take right economical choice.
In this workshop TCO for different options will calculated by using international data and customised to local context.
LCCA, Life Cycle Cost Analysis.
TCO, Total Cost of ownership.
Break
10:30–11:00
Coffee Break
10:30–11:00
Session 6
Keys for PTCS: Scope, contract type, performance, financial agreement, duration, renewal monitoring, compliance and enforcement.
Define clear roles, responsibilities, and service expectations.
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor service quality.
Implement risk-sharing mechanisms for financial sustainability.
Include incentives for high performance and penalties for non-compliance.
Ensure flexibility for contract adjustments due to market or regulatory changes.
Lunch
12:30–13:30
Lunch
12:30–13:30
Session 7
To successfully implement and run fully electric line, it is essential to make the tendering process evolve from a simple vehicle purchase to the tendering of a comprehensive electric system, considering life cycle costs, charging infrastructure, batteries, economic models, leasing, renting, and different contract models.
Tendering electric bus operations
Which contract model to choose
Benchmarking of different model
Specifications and technical requirements
Important aspects specific to contact model
Financial constraints
Launching a request for quotation
Deliverables
Valuing tender criteria
Contract Management and Monitoring Best Practice
14:30–15:30
Break
15:30–16:00
Session 9
Before delivery testing, factory acceptance tests, FAT, static test, dynamic test, functional test, quality check, safety checks etc. need to be discussed.
Pre-delivery test
Homologations
Safety and quality checks
Statics, dynamics, functional tests
Study Visit
Pick up with e-bus, presentation and technical counterparts
Module 2: Planning and Implementation – HAMBURG: Welcome – Introduction to the course and Expectation Analysis
09:00–09:30
Session 1
Operations of e-bus and technical requirements regarding the battery capacity are tightly related. Regarding scheduling and operational conditions technical requirements needs to be defined. From line management and maintenance to training of personnel, driving and safety, the operations of a fully electric bus line differ substantially from that of a traditional one. Furthermore, battery electric buses have different range of autonomy and operational characteristics than ICE bus. If not well planned and designed fleet size may be higher than before. The importance of studying the initial operational needs is key to successfully introducing electric buses, as much as the design and dimensioning of the line according to the energy supply and usage.
Basic needs to figure out battery sizing
Fleet replacement ratio BEB to ICE
E-Bus range definition and battery sizing estimation
Session 2
Overview of feasibility analysis (capital costs, operational costs, and life cycle costs) of e-Buses and its comparison with ICEs.
Global best practices adopted by Transport Authorities on e-Bus transition and growth over the years.
E-Bus sustainability analysis to facilitate planning for growth.
Overall strategy recommendations to replace ICE buses and support growth and funding of e-Buses.
Identification of potential sources of funds to bridge current e-Bus revenue – expenditure gaps and scarcity of funds.
Investment and funding challenges, risks, and mitigations measures.
Comprehensive growth plan with a year-wise number of e-Bus and funding options.
Investment decision matrix and road map for year-wise e-Bus fleet size.
Session 3
This session will investigate battery technologies and different types of batteries for different purposes of usage. Basic battery chemistry and benchmarking of different types of battery will be discussed. Definition of the terms specific to battery to better understand the battery terminology and how to manage battery in a way to increase performance and lifetime and possibility to use battery for other purposes are going to be covered.
Technologies cell type
Behaviour
Management systems
Lifetime
Standards
Break
15:00–15:30
Session 4
Safety
Thermal management
Models
Session 5
With the introduction of electric vehicles, public transport operators must establish electric energy management. To do this, existing business processes must be reviewed and modified and, in some cases, new processes need to be defined. Energy management for electric vehicles imposes on strategic and operational planning, depot management and operations control. It discusses the effects on the IT systems for timetable, block and duty planning for vehicle and personnel dispatch, depot management, operations control (ITCS), and charge management in the depot as well as during line operation.
In this session implementation and benefits of intelligent electric supply management systems for electric bus operation will be covered.
Coffee Break
10:30–11:00
Session 6
Different types of chargers (on-board vs. off-board; AC vs. DC; fixed battery vs. swap battery chargers).
Different charging protocols (CCS, CHAdeMO, GB/T, Bharat) and their operational competencies for selection by PTAs.
Different charging technologies (conductive, inductive, and battery swapping) typical use-cases, and merits and demerits.
Different operating models (e.g. large capacity battery with slow overnight charging at the depot, small battery with 0n-route opportunity plus depot).
Charging time estimation for different SOC levels of battery and charging power (kW) levels.
Estimation of the number of chargers required for a given e-Bus fleet, battery size, and daily operational coverage.
e-Bus Charging system technical specification, warranty, terms and conditions considerations for procurement (including chargers’ auto monitoring system).
Lunch
12:30–13:30
Overall System Planning and Optimisation (grid planning)
13:30–15:00
Coffee Break
15:00–15:30
Session 8
OHS for e-bus maintenance is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of workers, complying with legal requirements, preventing accidents, and promoting a positive work environment.
How to improve staff safety
Reduce risks create better environment for worker
Safety basics for bus operators
PPE for maintenance staff
Near miss reports and improvements
Training and communication with first respondents
Safety is crucial and one of the important topics for e-bus operations. What are the critical aspects for the first responders, staff, drivers, safety charts and labels according to ECR100 and how to evacuate from the bus will be explained.
Pick up with e-bus, presentation + technical counterparts
Module 3: Operation and Maintenance – MADRID: Welcome – Introduction to the course and Expectation Analysis
09:00–09:30
Session 1
The maintenance of e-bus is completely different than the conventional bus. One of the big challenges is to build new capacity from existing maintenance team. New systematic approach must be allowed to do right maintenance at the right time with highly skilled staff. How to maintain e-buses, and how to train existing staff or employing new staff will be explained in this session.
Maintenance management
Type of maintenance – Corrective, Planned, Preventive, Pro-active
Training requirements for existing or requited staff for maintenance
Coffee Break
10:30–11:00
Session 2
How to improve staff safety
Reduce risks create better environment for workers
Safety basics for bus operators
PPE for maintenance staff
Near miss reports and improvements
Lunch
12:30–13:30
Session 3
How to create KPIs
Success factor for PTOs
Key Performance Indicators, KPIs
Performance Indicators PIs
Performance monitoring for different elements
RAM Parametres
KPI For Performance Monitoring
Mtbf, Mdbf, Failure Rate, Fleet Availability
Defining KPIs for different activities
Monitoring maintenance, operations, customer and finance by KPIs
Coffee Break
15:00–15:30
Session 4
This session explains the specific characteristics and requirements, both in terms of rolling stock, design of itineraries, operation, monitoring and control of high demand e-bus lanes, including the solutions and tools for its optimisation, such as prioritisation at traffic lights.
Session 5
Requirements and performance: standardisation, interoperability
Impact on operations: LCC, Maintenance, data, autonomy and performance
Contractual framework: system approach, share of risks, commitment, procurement
Managing successful efficient driving on bus operators has been a must for combustion vehicles. Urban EV fleets present a new challenge and possibilities for improving energy consumption and overall performance. Homogenising driving styles according to vehicle makers and incorporating a continuous improving methodology can decisively contribute to a predictable operation, minimising potential issues
Recommendations
Session 6
This session includes the EMT Madrid approach towards charging infrastructure, historical background, vision, goals.
Everything you need to know about charging electric buses: Types of charging (overnight and opportunity charging, in-motion charging), types of chargers (wire, induction, types of pantographs, etc.), smart charging, challenges, limitations, key aspects to consider, recommendations, adaptation and construction of bus depots, use of alternative energy sources.
Break
11:00–11:30
Session 7
Civil infrastructure required for the installation of the charging system standards and regulations related to charging and grid infrastructure.
Charging power demand estimation and load distribution for typical e-Bus fleet daily charging schedules.
Electrical low voltage infrastructure requirement for different charging configurations (depot charging, opportunity charging, battery swap); setup and installation.
Electrical high voltage infrastructure requirement (e.g. dedicated distribution transformer) for power supply to e-Bus Charging station; setup and installation.
Estimation of land area requirement for setting up of charging and electrical infrastructure.
Technical and financial aspects related to electrical/ power grid infrastructure.
Typical costs of setting up an e-Bus charging station and associated grid infrastructure.
Energy consumption, charging and overall performance need be monitored and managed in the most optimal way to ensure efficient and seamless electric bus operations. How to intelligently use data to achieve such performance will be presented and discussed in this session. Continuous improvement by integration of smart data (feedback loop) for the optimisation in operational simulations is thereby the key.
Tour of depot, pick up with electric bus and presentation and technical counterparts (transportation provided by EMT Madrid)
Evaluations and Wrap-up
12:30–14:00
Diploma Ceremony
14:00
A Top Level Methodology
Expert trainers with extensive global experience in public transport management and operations.
3 interactive classroom modules integrating theory and practice.
Dynamic workshops conducted in small groups, focusing on practical case studies.
8 e-learning sessions facilitated through the UITP Academy Learning Management System,
Urban Mobility Lab: Collaborative group project on public transport and sustainable urban mobility, applying learnings to real-world case studies.
UITP Training Programs and all related processes are certified for ISO 21001: 2018 – the standard for Educational organisations – Management systems for educational organisations.
Our skillful trainers are international experts and professionals with extensive experience and knowledge in the development and application of Electric Bus operations.
Josep Enric GARCÍA ALEMANY (spanish bio)
Public Transport Consultant
Spain
Es Ingeniero de Caminos, Canales y Puertos especializado en Transporte y Territorio por la Universidad Politécnica de València. Ha desarrollado su actividad profesional principalmente en el sector del transporte y la movilidad sostenible, en los ámbitos público y privado, ejecutando labores consultivas, operativas y ejecutivas.
Como consultor y proyectista ha firmado proyectos constructivos de infraestructuras ciclistas y ha actuado como responsable en la elaboración de Planes de movilidad urbana y en estudios de demanda, viabilidad y modelización de redes urbanas e interurbanas de transporte público entre otros.
Como operador, desarrolló la oficina técnica del Grupo Transvia en 2014 y ostentó el cargo de director gerente en la Empresa Municipal de Transportes de València entre 2015 y 2020.
En la actualidad, desde Moov, consultoría de movilidad y transporte, centra su actividad en la formación y consultoría estratégica en transporte público.
Rachel HUGHES
Director, Surbon Consulting, UK & UAE
United Kingdom
Rachel has a BA (Hons) in Geography from University of Oxford and holds the inaugural Masters in Carbon Management from University of Edinburgh Business School. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
Since graduating from Oxford, Rachel worked as a consultant beginning her career as a transport planner with WSP then worked for a start-up advising companies in the transport sector on how to reduce their carbon emissions. She then set up her own firm (Surbon Consulting) in the UK supporting transport operators such as Keolis, Go-Ahead, Serco and MTR on business development and contract mobilisation covering contract management, sustainability and customer experience. She has worked across all modes of transport: rail, metro, bus, ferry and cycle hire and more recently electric scooters. She set up a UAE branch of Surbon Consulting in 2017 and has delivered work in UAE, Qatar and Saudi.
She has been a member of UITP since 2015 and has found the conferencing and training courses offered by UITP extremely valuable. She has been an UITP trainer delivering training to TGA (Saudi), RTA (Dubai) and LTA (Singapore).
Karl ORTON
Fleet director
Keolis
Sweden
Claudius JEHLE
CEO / Managing Director
volytica diagnostics GmbH
Germany
Claudius Jehle is founder and CEO of volytica diagnostics GmbH, a company focusing on easy, safe and independent battery quality and health assessment. Claudius studied Mechanical Engineering and System Identification in TU Munich and TU Delft until 2012, and was then leading the research group Energy Storage Diagnostics and Telematics at the Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI, Dresden, from 2013 until 2019.
Besides his role as CEO, Claudius is giving lectures on Battery Basics and Battery Degradation, writing knowledge base articles and is giving speeches and presentation on the global topic of batteries, the involved value chains and the potentials around independent battery diagnostics.
David YORKE
Senior Consultant, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Having worked with zero and low emission buses for the last 15 years, David has gained vast knowledge and knowhow in the operation and maintenance side of bus operations. Since the start of 2024, David is working as an independent consultant to assist and further develop the operation of zero emission heavy duty vehicles.
The start of David’s zero emission experience started in 2009 when he worked for Tower Transit, a London bus operator. He oversaw all aspects of the London hydrogen fuel cell buses that were part of the Clean Hydrogen in European Cities (CHiC) and Environmentally Friendly, Efficient Electric Motion (3Emotion) projects. From the start of the projects, David managed the introduction of the buses including setting up of the associated fuelling station and workshop, plus the daily operation incorporating zero emission buses as part of the overall bus fleet.
Following his time at Tower Transit, David joined Ballard Power Systems Europe as Market Development Manager continuing to develop and promote the use of fuel cell electric buses.
Alongside his belief in hydrogen vehicles, David is also a leading authority on other low and zero emission technologies and their operation.
Prior to his involvement on zero emission vehicles, David worked in the manufacturing industry on new product introduction, aftersales support and quality.
David is a European and Chartered Engineer (EUR ING and CEng), qualified to master’s degree level in both Hydrogen Safety Engineering and Electronics.
Maria WEDENBY AHLBERG
Head of Public Affairs
Volvo Bus Corporation
Sweden
Maria has extensive experience in electromobility and sustainable transport solutions. Previously City Mobility Director at Volvo Buses, she has closely co-operated with cities, authorities and operators. Maria has represented Volvo Buses in international committees within industry organisations, such as UITP and ACEA. She has a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.
Arnd BÄTZNER
Founder
Baetzner Metropolitan
Switzerland
Arnd Bätzner provides consulting and government advisory on the alignment of multi-modal transit systems with the built environment and strategic land use planning. Focus areas include the integration of shared, demand-responsive transport with high-capacity modes, the role of data in autonomous driving, and bus electrification.
Arnd did part of his Ph.D. research on leveraging walkability in Hong Kong, Singapore and Jakarta. He chairs the Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport’s strategic advisory board and is a previous chair of the UITP Trolleybus Committee.
Mohamed ABOU EL ENEIN
Project Manager for Hydrogen & E-Mobility
Wiener Linien
Austria
Mohamed Abou El Enein, MSc., studied mechanical engineering with a focus on digitalized product development and drive technology at the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien. Joined “Wiener Linien”, the operator of the largest regional transport network in Austria, in 2019, working in the main department for Vehicle Technology in various innovation & digitization projects. Currently holding the position as a Project Manager for Hydrogen & E-mobility in the department for Motor Vehicles to investigate into battery-electric powertrains and hydrogen powertrains for the decarbonization strategy of Wiener Linien’s bus fleet.
Benjamin ROELANDS
eBus Program Manager
STIB
Belgium
Ingénieur Civil diplômé en 2001 (Université Libre de Bruxelles), Benjamin Roelands a travaillé chez différents constructeurs actifs dans le secteur des transports : Valéo (automobile), Sonaca (aéronautique), Alstom (ferroviaire).
Il rejoint la Société des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles en 2011. En 2014, il participe en collaboration avec la Vrije Universiteit Brussel au projet Eliptic financé par l’UE qui a permis de poser les premières bases d’une utilisation de bus à batteries à Bruxelles. En 2016, il lance le programme d’électrification de la flotte de bus qui se traduit par l’exploitation des premiers bus électriques à Bruxelles.
Fort de l’expérience acquise, la STIB se prépare aujourd’hui à poursuivre le programme d’électrification de la flotte de bus.
Sophie SCHAAR
Project Manager Electric Buses
Hamburger Hochbahn AG
Germany
Sophie graduated with a Diploma Degree in Mechanical Engineering & Bachelor of Business Administration from RWTH Aachen.
She worked in the control of development scopes in the interior as SE-Teamleader for BMW.
With MAN Truck & Bus SE she carried out cost analysis in the area of plastic components, then worked on component and system responsibility for interior scopes & managed the project team for cabin development of the electric truck.
Since October 2021 she works at HOCHBAHN in Hamburg as Project Manager for System Integration of electric buses and more recently as Project Manager for the electric buses.
Practical information
Please note that participants will be in charge of their own travel arrangements.
When?
The modules will start each day at 9:00 CEST time (UTC+2) / CET time (UTC+1) on the dates below:
Module 1: Fundamentals of E-Bus, 23-25 September 2025, Brussels (Belgium)
Module 2: Planning and Implementation, 14-16 October, Hamburg (Germany)
Module 3: Operation and Maintenance, 18-20 November 2025, Madrid (Spain)
*UITP reserves the right to make amendments to the programme or any related activity at its discretion.
What material do I receive?
Presentations are made available to participants through Academy Learning Management System (LMS).
