In Latvia, 14 municipalities spent 8.4 million euros to acquire 19 electric buses as part of a government initiative. However, the program has been criticized for its inefficiency, as these buses face significant usage restrictions due to quality problems such as rust and cracks in the interior, and they do not meet the intended goals of being truly emissions-free. Reports indicate that the buses spend an average of 53% of the year idle due to these limitations.

The initiative's decentralized procurement process lacked sufficient competition, which raised concerns about the economic use of public funds. The analysis suggests that had municipalities opted for smaller buses at a lower price point, they could have collectively saved up to 677,000 euros. This points to potential mismanagement or misallocation of resources within the program, reinforcing the need for better oversight in public spending initiatives.

Additionally, the quality deficiencies that affected many of the newly acquired buses hinder their operational effectiveness. As several buses were already found to have substantial issues upon delivery, there is a growing concern about the reliability and sustainability of such investments in electric public transportation. Municipalities may need to reevaluate their approach to future energy solutions to ensure that funding not only supports greener technologies but also delivers practical community benefits.