At the initiative of the Management Committee, and with the approval of the APEEE Services Board of Directors and the General Assembly, the Transport Service has been pursuing its transition towards a zero-emission school transport service since 2020, with the aim of reducing the impact of pollutant emissions on pupils. EEB1 was also the first school in Belgium to operate an electric school bus.

The original ambitious objective was to achieve a 100% electric bus fleet by 2025, by gradually increasing the number of electric buses in operation. This timeline has since been adjusted to reflect the evolving global geopolitical context. Nevertheless, the commitment of the Service, the Management Committee, and APEEE Services as a whole remains as strong as ever.

Progress of the green transition over the years:

• 2020–2021: 02/76 = 2.7%
• 2021–2022: 05/77 = 6.5%
• 2022–2023: 09/77 = 12%
• 2023–2024: 17/78 = 22%
• 2024–2025: 24/76 = 32%
• 2025–2026: 31/77 = 40%
• 2026–2027 forecast: 41/73 = 56%

Implementation of the Green Transition

Every year, the Transport Service negotiates contracts with these companies, which must comply with specifications established by the Service.

With this objective in mind, a complete revision of both the contracts and the specifications was carried out during the 2024-2025 school year in preparation for the 2025-2026 school year. This work clarified the Service's expectations, adapted the requirements to evolutions within the sector, and strengthened the framework for collaboration with partner companies.

With the approval of the Management Committee and the Board of Directors, the Service also conducted a comprehensive market study of the school bus sector in 2026. The aim was to gain a better understanding of market developments and ensure balanced negotiations with transport companies, enabling the Service to secure the fairest possible conditions while continuing to pursue its green transition objectives.

During the preparation of the routes for the 2026–2027 school year, the Service also focused on optimising the network by reducing the number of routes where possible and improving vehicle occupancy rates. This optimisation increased the operational efficiency of the network and enabled the Service to accept a greater number of offers involving electric buses, thereby supporting the continued growth of the zero-emission fleet.

Since the launch of this green transition, the Transport Service has actively supported transport companies in their move towards more sustainable mobility solutions. Year after year, new companies have joined this initiative and invested in electric vehicles, gradually strengthening the availability of zero-emission transport on the market.

As part of this transition, the Transport Service has also adapted its contractual policy. While five-year contracts were initially offered to transport companies, market developments, operational realities, and the significant investments required to acquire electric vehicles have led the Service to favour seven-year contracts. This longer contract period provides companies with greater certainty when planning their investments while helping to secure more competitive prices for school transport subscriptions.

During the 2024–2025 school year, the APEEE Services Board of Directors also approved the introduction of a price cap for transport subscriptions. This measure aims to keep subscription fees within the limits of the school allowance while allowing the Service to continue its gradual transition towards a more sustainable fleet, thereby supporting the European Schools' contribution to the European Commission's objective of becoming greener by 2030.

The green transition remains one of the Service's key priorities, alongside its commitment to ensuring that a sufficient number of vehicles is available to operate the entire network. The gradual increase in the proportion of electric buses is being implemented while fully respecting operational constraints and ensuring the continuity and reliability of the service.