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An Exemplary Approach in The Framework of The Public Procurement
Law No. 4734 for Electric Bus Purchases by Local Governments

of the world constitute a substantial potential on the reduction of air pollution
and noise levels caused by the transportation in the cities and they are at
the centre of the current transportation policies. Innovative transformation
processes based on alternative vehicle technologies for rubber-wheeled
public transport systems bring forward the specific infrastructure requirements
as well as bus concepts using alternative fuel. In addition, it makes it necessary
to apply various approaches that differ from traditional methods, in which
purchasing processes and operational conditions are considered together
from the side of the authorities /operators.
There are different applications in public transportation systems depending
on the business planning and offered service concepts. This situation requires
extensive feasibility studies before the transition to electric bus concepts
for rubber-wheeled public transportation systems. Therefore, it will be
appropriate to determine the following issues before conducting the studies.
Accordingly, the public transportation operator should take into account,
• The operational conditions such as climate, topography, traffic and
passenger density etc. of the city where it operates,
• The total number of lines, the existing executed contracts and business
models (between the authority and the operator),
• The types, age, ownership status of buses used, maintenance & repair
approaches being performed,
• Requirements for infrastructure specific to alternative fuel buses to be
possibly used (charging station concepts to be installed for electric
buses, energy infrastructure needs, locations to be deployed, charging
operational planning etc.).
This study will discuss the procurement approaches specific to public
transportation systems regarding the transition to electric buses from traditional
buses, in accordance with the above-mentioned basic requirements in the public
transportation systems in Türkiye. A middle and long-term application sustainable
concept is suggested, which bases on the applicable provisions of the Public
Procurement Law No. 4734 and on which the local governments, in particular,
and other stakeholders to be mentioned in the following sections will agree.

1. Business Models Applied for Purchasing Electric Buses
According to the report prepared by the International Association of Public
Transport (UITP), which is based on more than 320 public transport operators
from 46 countries in total, 63% of public transport systems are operated by
buses. In this scope, approximately 68% of the fleets of the related operators
consist of 12 m standard buses, 12% of articulated buses, 8% of midi-buses, 12%

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