EXPO 2027 company to open procurement for electric buses by year-end – Purchase of 50 vehicles for fair lines expected

The EXPO 2027 doo company will call for tender for the purchase of electric buses “for the needs of passenger transport at the EXPO location” by the end of this year. The latest amendments to the Procurement Plan for 2025 of this company indicate that this tender should be implemented by the end of the year, which specifically states that a public procurement procedure for electric vehicles is planned for the fourth quarter of 2025.

The exact number of vehicles in question is not specified, but according to eKapija’s latest findings, the purchase of 50 electric buses is planned.

According to our information, when it comes to the infrastructure necessary to serve the “fair” lines, i.e. the installation of chargers for these vehicles and other necessary equipment, this expenditure will be handled by the Ministry of Finance. The chargers and other equipment that will be installed at the state’s expense will also be used by ASP Strela, which will also operate part of the “fair” lines with its vehicles, and it is interesting that the charging of electric buses of the private carrier is planned at the GSP facility in New Belgrade.

Recently, let us remind, the Centar GSP union indicated that the company EXPO 2027 doo had sent an official proposal to the Belgrade City Administration to include Strela from Obrenovac for the needs of transporting participants, visitors, employees and volunteers at the international specialized exhibition in 2027. As the union indicated at the time, in that document, referring to the Transport Study that is not publicly available, this state-owned company estimates that 100 electric buses will be needed for the needs of the exhibition in the period from May 15 to August 15, 2027. They would operate on seven new lines and one feeder line, and the company is ready to finance the purchase of 50 capacitor-type buses for the needs of GSP Belgrade, while the remaining 50 battery-type electric buses are to be purchased by Strela, which would receive three new lines.

Purchase of 30 to 50 trolleybuses also being considered

According to our findings, a final decision on the purchase of modern trolleybuses that would be purchased as part of a procurement procedure organized by the state, not the city of Belgrade, is expected soon. Due to cost reduction, the purchase of 30 to 50 trolleybuses is currently being considered.

When it comes to the use of the new vehicles that will be purchased by EXPO 2027 doo, that is, the state, they will be part of the GSP Beograd fleet, which will take care of and maintain them.

It is not yet known exactly what and what kind of electric vehicles these will be, because since the purchase of new vehicles for the needs of EXPO lines was first mentioned, the story about the number of vehicles and their type has been changing. However, during July and August of this year, a series of meetings and presentations were organized where electric buses and prototype trolleybuses from Higer were presented, which use capacitor technology instead of the standard battery used by most electric bus manufacturers. According to those familiar with the details of this deal, if we take into account the relatively short delivery time and the fact that the GSP authorities recommended the purchase of vehicles using supercapacitor technology, this significantly narrows the possibility of another manufacturer winning the contract in these procurement procedures.

D. Aleksic

Expo 2027 doo Beograd

JKP GSP Beograd

ASP Strela doo Obrenovac

Higer RS Gornji Milanovac

Centar GSP Beograd trade union

purchase of electric buses for EXPO

purchase of trolleybuses

electric buses