Demonstration of zero emission coaches and buses in long distance operations (2ZERO Partnership)
Horizon Europe · Grant topic
Summary
A Polish company can use this call for R&D.
Funds companies, transport operators and researchers demonstrating innovative zero-emission buses and coaches in regular long-distance passenger services.
- Who can apply
- Companies can lead: SME, large company, startup, research org, university.
- Amount
- €14M per projectTotal budget €13,500,000
- Deadline
- 14 Apr 2027 02:00 CESTin 172 days
- Status
- Forthcomingopens 15 Dec 2026
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source.
Description
Expected Outcome:
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
• Integration of the results of the demonstrations in regular operation of passenger transport operators, in long distance operations. Accelerated replication of this integration, beyond original demo partners, using specific recommendations and sharing of best practices
• Reliable operation of long distance zero emission buses and coaches in the EU.
• Improved comfort and inter-modality for long distance people mobility services.
• Demonstrated innovative zero emission solutions for long distance people mobility in a holistic approach taking net congestions challenges and charging solutions into account.
Scope:
Zero emission buses for urban and sub-urban use are successfully implemented in Europe. This has addressed the need to improve air quality, reduce noise and innovate people mobility. Yet there are limitations due to range, vehicle weight and available charging infrastructure to further extend zero emission vehicles in more energy demanding long-distance (ranging from regional, national to transnational) people mobility that needs to be addressed. There is a need to further develop zero-emission solutions where vehicle weight and energy demand are challenges.
Proposed actions are expected to address all of the following aspects:
• Develop sustainable and affordable, long-distance zero emission people mobility solutions for different areas and regions with new and viable business cases based on new operation models and smart management of fleets and of coaches and buses.
• Test and apply concepts, tools and models with direct involvement of European bus/coach providers and operators to speed up deployment. Include the transition from long-distance to urban, in intermodal hubs and with park-and ride.
• Demonstrate using at least 5 coaches and buses in several operational routes in the EU and/or in corridors segments in different Member States and/or Associated Countries, focussing on long-distance operation patterns (average ≥500 km in extra-urban scenarios, in one or more routing).
• Demonstrations must cover aspects such as planning, optimised charging/refuelling schedules, passenger experience, driving time regulations, cross-border trips, charging solutions and impacts on the grid. Replication, recommendations and sharing of best practices shall be part of the demonstrations, as well as the development of new business models and the analysis of remaining legal barriers.
• Develop shared charging solutions that can be used for multiple operators and other vehicle types. Both technical and operational issues must be addressed, as well as “rush hour” at charging stations, balancing demand and supply of energy. The use of charging solutions and shared charging hubs by a variety of mobility and transport operators must be explored, also incorporating seasonal effects and operational demands.
• Based on user needs, develop flexibility in interior design to enhance travel comfort, safety and user experience, thus aiming at making it more appealing and inclusive to use this mode of transport.
• Leverage on other 2Zero projects related to Buses and HDV should be considered.[1]
This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘Towards zero emission road transport’ (2ZERO). As such, projects resulting from this topic will be expected to report on the results to the European Partnership ‘Towards zero emission road transport’ (2ZERO) in support of the monitoring of its KPIs.
Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 7-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. Activities may start at any TRL.
[1] Ref Examples are projects funded under CL5-2022-D5-01-10 and CL5-2022-D5-01-08
Who can apply, in detail
- Applicant types
- SME, Large company, Startup, Research org, University
- Purpose
- Research and innovation
- R&D relevance
- 3 of 3
- Poland eligible
- Yes
- Country limit
- —
- Region
- Any
- Consortium
- Unclear
- Readiness level (TRL)
- —
- Topics
- Zero-emission coaches
- Long-distance electric buses
- Charging solutions
- Passenger transport demonstrations
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source. 23 Oct 2026
Conditions
Typed facts extracted from the source documents by Scindu's grant-data review. Each value keeps its own conditions. Unknown means unstated, not zero or unlimited.
- Applicant restriction
- Entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by China or a legal entity established in China are not eligible to participate in this Innovation Action, under the cited critical-technology restriction.
- Applicant type
- Unless the call/topic provides otherwise, consortium beneficiaries must include at least three independent legal entities established in different countries: one in an EU Member State and two others in different EU Member States or Associated Countries. No topic-specific consortium-size exception was identified in this reviewed topic section.
- Application restriction
- The MOBILITY call is scheduled to open 15 December 2026 and close 14 April 2027; the Work Programme states deadlines are 17:00 Brussels local time. This call window is scheduled, not evidence that applications are currently accepted.
- Consortium required
- Yes
- Eligible project scope
- The topic expects demonstration with at least five coaches and buses on several operational routes in the EU and/or corridor segments in different Member States and/or Associated Countries, focused on long-distance operation patterns averaging at least 500 km in extra-urban scenarios. This wording records the Work Programme’s expected demonstration scope.
- Other condition
- The call overview indicates around 1 project(s) expected to be funded for this topic. This is a planning estimate, not guaranteed awards or a binding consortium/project-count condition.
- Other condition
- The topic calls for demonstrations using at least five coaches and buses and focuses on long-distance operation patterns averaging at least 500 km in extra-urban scenarios.
- Technology readiness level at end, maximum
- 8 TRL
Expected end-of-project level range; activities may start at any TRL.
- Technology readiness level at end, minimum
- 7 TRL
Expected end-of-project level; activities may start at any TRL. This is the topic expectation, not an applicant past-performance qualification.
Amounts and costs
- Indicative budget
- €13,500,000
Topic budget as stated in the portal's budget table. Lump-sum and per-project limits are in the call conditions.
- Call allocation
- €131,000,000
Overall indicative CL5-2027-03 call-pool budget, not a per-project or per-beneficiary award; subject to availability of EU appropriations.
- Eligible cost
- If a project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS; other data/services may also be used.
- Eligible cost
- For this budget-based action grant, eligible personnel costs include employees/equivalent assigned to the action under an employment contract or equivalent appointment; eligible remuneration components and calculation are limited by MGA Article 6 and must be costs actually incurred. No project-specific job title, headcount or salary amount is stated by the topic.
- Funding intensity, maximum
- 70 percent_of_eligible_costs
Maximum rate for Innovation Actions is 70% of eligible costs for other entities; General Annex G allows up to 100% for non-profit legal entities. This is an entity-category ceiling, not a promise of a grant amount.
- Funding intensity, maximum
- 100 percent_of_eligible_costs
For non-profit legal entities in this Innovation Action, the funding rate may be up to 100% of eligible costs. The General Annex states this as an exception to the standard 70% Innovation Action rate. This is a legal-entity-specific ceiling, not a grant guarantee.
- Expected contribution per project
- €13,500,000
Commission estimate of EU contribution per project; not a fixed ceiling or floor, and different requested amounts are not precluded.
- Topic allocation
- €13,500,000
Indicative topic budget pool. It is distinct from the per-project expected contribution and is not an individual beneficiary award.
Personnel and services
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
Source documents
Call facts
- Opens
- 15 Dec 2026
- Deadline model
- Single-stage
- Programme
- Horizon Europe · 2021 - 2027
- Call
- HORIZON-CL5-2027-03 · MOBILITY
- Types of action
- HORIZON Innovation Actions
- Source
- ec.europa.eu
- Checked
- 24 Oct 2026
- Portal updated
- 7 Oct 2026
- Review status
- Partial review
- Reviewed
- 23 Oct 2026
This is a summary of the source page, not the official text. Eligibility, conditions and the submission system are at the source.