Behind the scenes 29 July 2026
4 minutes

CFL buses are powering ahead with electric mobility

Photographie de deux bus électriques CFL. La partie avant d’un des deux bus est visible à l’avant-plan et le second, à l’arrière-plan, est sur le départ. Les bus présentent une livrée noire et blanche.

The electrification of the CFL’s 83 buses is moving up a gear. Following the arrival of 12 electric buses in 2025, 12 additional vehicles are joining the fleet this year. This marks a significant milestone in a transformation that began in 2019 with the introduction of the first two buses, and which is set to lead to the complete electrification of the fleet by 2030, accompanied by new charging, parking and maintenance infrastructure.

An electric bus is more than just a battery. Behind every journey lies a precise organisational system combining planning, smart charging, suitable infrastructure and digital tools. Whilst passengers are already enjoying 14 quieter, more comfortable and cleaner buses, the teams are constantly refining the planning and operation of these next-generation vehicles.

“In collaboration with our suppliers, we have adapted our staff and bus scheduling software so that everything is perfectly aligned,” says Jeff Van Der Weken, Head of Bus Operations at the CFL. “The challenge is to get different systems to work together towards a single goal: delivering a timely service to customers.”

Photograph of several electric buses parked at a charging station equipped with overhead charging points. A green pedestrian path is visible on the ground. The buses are painted in black, white and red.
The buses are recharged each time that the driver changes, with the driver responsible for connecting the bus to a charging point.
Photograph of the dashboard of a new CFL electric bus.
Heating in winter, air conditioning in summer and comfort features are managed automatically and switched on 30 minutes before the bus departs.
Photograph of two CFL electric buses side by side. The electric bus on the right is using a pantograph to recharge its battery. The buses are painted in black and white.
The bus batteries can be charged via a pantograph for rapid charging.
Photograph of the CFL Bus Service’s repair and maintenance workshop. Four buses are visible from the rear. One electric bus is visible and is currently positioned on the workshop’s repair platform.
The teams at the Bus Service Workshop are trained to maintain these new vehicles.
Photograph of the new type of rear-view mirror on CFL buses, which has been replaced by cameras that provide the driver with a panoramic view of the bus’s surroundings.
The new electric buses are equipped with a range of driver-assistance systems and cameras that replace rear-view mirrors and provide a wider view of the vehicle’s surroundings.

When a bus is connected to a charging point, the software analyses the energy required for the next journey and schedules the charging to take advantage of the most favourable electricity tariff.

“Smart charging for buses is similar to what a private individual might do with their own vehicle: charging at the best time based on the price of electricity,” adds Jeff Van Der Weken. “We also ensure that the battery’s lifespan is maximised. To do this, we avoid full charging as much as possible and limit the use of the pantograph, which allows for faster charging but whose higher power output causes greater wear and tear on the battery, much like superchargers for cars.”

Alongside the arrival of the new buses, the CFL are planning to build a new hall and workshop at the Bus Service headquarters in Bonnevoie, as well as decentralised charging facilities in Echternach and Mertert-Wasserbillig.

Benefits for staff and customers alike

State-of-the-art safety features, a comfortable journey… electric buses offer plenty of benefits not only for customers but also for the staff who get them to their destination safely.

“Our colleagues have already covered a great many kilometres in our new buses and they confirm that the driver’s cab has been very well designed, much like an aeroplane cockpit. This satisfaction is also down to the electric driving experience itself, which is significantly more pleasant than with a combustion-engine vehicle, both in terms of noise levels and available power,” adds Christophe Ronkar, Head of the Bus Fleet Division at the CFL.

Photograph of the interior of a CFL bus. The seats are upholstered in red fabric.
The interior of the bus is systematically inspected before each departure, and if necessary, swept clean and the rubbish bins emptied.
Photograph of a surveillance camera mounted on the bus ceiling. The camera is white.
The presence of on-board cameras is one of the safety features of the new electric buses.
Photograph of the bus steering wheel held by the driver’s hands. The sun visor and the dashboard, which are also visible, are black.
Quiet, smooth and seamless: these modern vehicles combine a comfortable ride for both staff and passengers.
Photograph of the area designated for passengers with reduced mobility.
Accessible to people with reduced mobility (PRM), the CFL’s electric buses are also fitted with doors designed to block out external noise during regional journeys on the RGTR lines.
Photograph of the control screen for the driver.
The CFL buses run on former narrow-gauge railway lines.

Designed for a service life of 8 years, covering 90,000 km per year, these buses offer substantial efficiency gains by avoiding the heat losses typical of combustion-engine vehicles and by recovering energy during braking.

The delivery of the next batch of buses will also enable the organisation to benefit from the latest technological advances in battery technology, offering greater capacity and range. 12 Mercedes eCitaro buses are scheduled for delivery in summer 2026 (6 measuring 12 metres in length and 6 measuring 18 metres in length). 14 Volvo buses are planned for early 2027 (4 measuring 18 metres in length and 10 measuring 15 metres in length).

“These are significant investments in rolling stock, but above all an investment in the modern, sustainable and inclusive mobility promoted by the CFL,” notes Christophe Ronkar.

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