Latin American Cities Reach Historic Milestone of 10,000 Electric Buses in Operation
Cities across Latin America have reached a significant milestone in sustainable urban mobility, with 10,000 electric buses now in operation across the region. Consolidated data released by C40 Cities and the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) during the Lat.Bus 2026 event confirms that this achievement represents a turning point in the decarbonisation of public transport.
Environmental and Strategic Impact
The milestone is the result of coordinated efforts by more than 80 cities in 13 countries, which have accelerated fleet electrification to address the climate crisis. Collectively, these buses are estimated to prevent the emission of over 10 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Ilan Cuperstein, C40 Cities Regional Director for Latin America, emphasized the significance of this shift: “Reaching 10,000 electric buses in operation shows that the transition to zero-emission transport is no longer a promise but a reality in Latin American cities”.
The São Paulo Model
São Paulo is identified as a key case study for the region, housing Brazil’s largest electric bus fleet with 1,759 vehicles. The city has secured a R$6.5 billion investment program by combining national and international resources, including support from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Beyond initial procurement, the city has institutionalized this transition through regulations that prohibit replacing retired vehicles with new diesel buses. According to São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes, this policy is already delivering tangible benefits, with the city’s electric fleet saving approximately 57 million litres of diesel annually.
Regional Expansion and Support
The transition is being supported by the ZEBRA Alliance and the Brazil Mutirão programme, which provide technical assistance for financial modelling and infrastructure development. Notable progress includes:
- Recife: Received a R$319 million federal investment to procure 100 electric buses and necessary charging infrastructure.
- Belo Horizonte: Focused on deploying charging infrastructure at bus depots to support the operation of its first 100 electric buses.
- Rio de Janeiro and Salvador: Currently receiving support for project structuring, including economic modelling and charging infrastructure studies for future fleet expansion.
This collaborative approach aims to lower the cost of capital and provide a replicable roadmap for other cities to follow, demonstrating that financial barriers to electrification can be managed through strategic planning and multilevel government cooperation.
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