The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) is hosting the Conference on Climate-Friendly Buses for the first time. Over a period of two days, transport companies, manufacturers and the scientific community will discuss innovations and developments in innovative drive systems for public transport as well as for long-distance bus transport. The conference begins today with around 200 participants both in person and online.
Following a welcome address by Hartmut Höppner, State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, Thorsten Koska (Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy) raised the following question in his keynote speech: “How can we achieve the transport transformation?”
Hartmut Höppner: “Climate-neutral buses are convincing ambassadors for climate-friendly mobility. They are quieter, more environmentally-friendly and therefore directly contribute to improving quality of life, particularly in inner cities. Climate-friendly bus fleets are growing dynamically in Germany. By switching to alternative drives, the bus sector is making a significant contribution to decarbonising transport and to protecting our climate. This transformation and digitalisation allow us to design a cleaner, more efficient, more digital and therefore more appealing mobility of the future. We must seize this opportunity and decisively tackle this transformation.”
In the subsequent panel discussions and speeches, users in the industry will provide insights into practical applications. Questions will be answered about how the switch works during ongoing operations and what role infrastructure and energy supply play. Furthermore, discussions about the current status of developments, political and economic objectives and prospects for the further ramp-up of climate-friendly buses in Germany are also included in the programme.
In addition to public transport, the subject of development in long-distance bus transport will also be raised – primarily in terms of technical and operational challenges posed in switching to climate-friendly intercity buses and coaches.
Excursions to the BVG electric depot as well as to the EUREF-campus in Berlin will take place on the second day of the event.
About the Conference on Climate-Friendly Buses
The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport is hosting the conference, organised by NOW GmbH. Conference documentation will be made available afterwards online here.
Overview: Funding of climate-friendly buses by the BMDV
There are currently more than 250 municipal and private transport companies being supported in their switch to climate-friendly buses via the ‘Guideline on funding alternative drive systems for passenger transport buses’. Specifically, around 3,500 buses and 140 feasibility studies are being funded. A marked rise in emission-free buses will take place in the market over the coming years as a result.
Battery-, fuel cell-, battery overhead line- as well as biomethane-operated buses are eligible for funding, as is the infrastructure required for their operation, in addition to the preparation of feasibility studies. The focus of the funding is on emission-free drive systems. The funding is part of the Federal Government’s 2030 Climate Action Programme for implementing the 2050 Climate Action Plan and the future package of the government’s economic stimulus package. Funding for this measure is also allocated as part of the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP) via the European Recovery and Resilience Facilities (ARF).
Further information can be found here.
Photo: Hartmut Höppner, State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, welcomes delegates to the Conference on Climate-Friendly Buses | Image source: Franz Josef, Berlin