Berlin’s electric bus fleet is growing: Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (Berlin’s transport company) is sending the first vehicle of its new generation of electrically-powered articulated buses into scheduled service. The 18-metre-long Solaris vehicle will initially be deployed on the 300 bus route. It is part of an order of 50 vehicles that will be delivered by the middle of 2025.
Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital and Transport: “The new electric articulated buses for Berlin are a significant step towards an environmentally-friendly and modern bus fleet. They combine innovation, climate protection and accessibility and with the world’s first battery passport, they set new standards of sustainability and transparency. I am delighted that we are able to support this progressive project through our funding.”
Henrik Falk, CEO of BVG: “Berlin’s streets are about to get cleaner with these new electric articulated buses. But it’s not just the climate that benefits, our passengers will too. With the new vehicles, we are creating a more stable bus service. I am also pleased that we are not complacent in terms of our high standards of accessibility of our buses, but we are always finding new ways to make it even easier for our passengers to use our service.”
The interior provides space for around 100 passengers, with 41 fixed seats. The vehicle will be powered by a robust central engine that will provide more stability during operation. In addition to charging at the depot, the vehicles can also be charged via pantograph at the terminal stops. A movable contact arm has been constructed on the roof of the bus for this purpose. The required charging points will be installed throughout the entire city over the coming years. SBRS GmbH from Hamburg is carrying out the design and approval planning for 36 terminal stops with a total of 101 charging points, having won the corresponding tender. The battery installed in the new articulated buses will have a range of over 200 kilometres.
The new electric articulated bus is the first in the world to have a so-called battery passport installed. It is a digital document that provides detailed information about the battery in question – its composition, material origin and environmental impact. This allows the battery to be properly recycled at the end of its service life.
The entire project is being partly funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) under the guideline for the promotion of alternative bus drives in passenger transport. The BMDV is funding up to 80 per cent of the additional innovative costs of the vehicle compared to a diesel bus and a portion of the required charging infrastructure. Funding for this measure is also provided under the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP) via the European Recovery and Resilience Facilities (ARF) in the NextGenerationEU programme. The funding guideline is coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by Project Management Jülich (PtJ). The remaining additional costs for electric mobility will be assumed by the state of Berlin as part of the concluded transport contract.
Photo: The first vehicle of the new electric articulated bus generation
Source: BVG
Image: BVG/Oliver Lang
