Serbia Awards 33 MM Euro Deal for EXPO 2027 e-buses, chargers

Serbia's state-owned company EXPO 2027, responsible for organizing an international exhibition in Belgrade next year, announced on Thursday that it has granted a 33.25 million euro ($39 million) contract for acquiring 50 electric city buses and eight fast chargers to a consortium comprising Bulgaria-based Chariot Motors, Serbia's DAT Holding, and China's Higer Bus Company Limited.

According to a press release from EXPO 2027, the low-floor vehicles feature electric drive systems and energy storage based on supercapacitors, allowing for rapid charging through pantographs and supplementary charging with CCS-2 connectors.

The contract's value, which encompasses the installation of the fast chargers, is exclusive of VAT. EXPO 2027 stated that it received two valid bids for the contract tender but did not disclose the name of the other bidder.

Chariot Motors, established in Sofia in 2009, specializes in designing and developing electric buses using ultra-capacitor technology created by Aowei. DAT Holding, based in Belgrade and founded in 2008, focuses on motor vehicle maintenance and repair. According to its website, Higer Bus Company Limited, founded in 1998, is the fastest-growing bus manufacturer in China.

Following the EXPO 2027 exhibition, all acquired buses will be transferred to Belgrade's public transport company, GSP Beograd, and will remain operational within the public transport system.

Belgrade will host the EXPO 2027 from March 15 to August 15 next year. The event, themed "Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All," will see participation from over 130 countries and is expected to attract more than four million visitors. Serbia intends to invest 17.8 billion euros in preparing for the exhibition.