Highlights • It is crucial to develop innovations to operate more environmentally friendly buses. • EBSF, 3iBS and ZeEUS projects are aimed at developing such new generation of buses. • The environmental concern is behind the majority of the tested innovations. • Operators’ willingness to change in favour of more electric modes is strong. • But a real “green awareness” is far from being fully raised among the operators.

Abstract This paper deals with EBSF – European Bus System of the Future, 3iBS – the Intelligent, Innovative Integrated Bus Systems and ZeEUS – Zero Emission bUs Systems, three research projects funded by the European Commission, with the aim to develop a new generation of buses. The common task is to develop innovative solutions to increase the attractiveness of this mode and to operate more environmentally-friendly vehicles. Key working areas are more comfortable layouts, advanced ITS-based solutions to improve operations, new engines designed to save fuel and the enhancement of the electric option. Concern for the environment lies behind the majority of these innovations. The innovations are tested in real urban environments and performance assessed through Key Performance Indicators. Within EBSF it was also possible to perform a Transferability Exercise (TE) to assess the theoretical exportability of the innovations to more urban contexts. The research objective of this paper is to critically revise the projects’ results and present them for further applications beyond the European projects field. Results thus far stressed contrasting aspects within a common vision for the development of a new generation of buses. Stakeholders are well aware of the need to comply with the European standards in the field of sustainable mobility. This is shown by the fact that the majority of them are becoming more environmentally aware about the need to renew their fleets. However, because of economical reasons they fail to consider any environmental concerns in the TE, even when these should be crucial in the transfer decisions.