Hamburg’s transport operator vhh.mobility (Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein), Germany’s third-largest municipal bus operator, is taking delivery of 95 new e-buses from Daimler Buses for its fleet. The purchase of the vehicles was made possible by funding at EU and federal level.
The new vehicles – 47 Mercedes eCitaro solo buses and 48 Mercedes eCitaro articulated buses – will be able to save up to 7,187 tonnes of CO₂ annually in the future. By way of comparison, 7,187 tonnes of CO₂ corresponds to the annual energy consumption of 1,300 average households in Germany, including electricity and heating. The new e-buses will now gradually be introduced on various vhh.mobility routes in the Hamburg metropolitan area. This means that 277 of a total of around 847 buses are emission-free – around 33 percent of the entire vhh.mobility fleet.
Federal Transport Minister Dr. Volker Wissing: ‘Converting our mobility system to climate-friendly drives is one of the greatest contemporary challenges. Switching to alternative drive systems is absolutely essential, especially in public transport, because buses cover an enormous distance in our city centres. I am delighted to see the result of our funding support in action here in Hamburg. The 95 new e-buses will achieve a lasting and sustainable reduction in emissions in the city. Nationwide, around 3,500 buses will be put on the roads with our funding support. These buses will make a significant contribution to achieving the climate targets in passenger transport, improve air quality while also reducing noise levels in cities.’
Dr. Anjes Tjarks, Hamburg’s Senator for Transport and the Mobility Transition: ‘With every additional e-bus, we are getting closer to our goal of making public transport in Hamburg completely emission-free. During this legislative period, we have really picked up speed in converting the city’s bus fleet. Over a quarter of all 1,900 buses are already emission-free. At the end of 2020, there were just 60 buses, or 3 percent of the overall fleet. These quieter, cleaner buses benefit not only the people in Hamburg and the surrounding area who live directly on the streets and in the urban centre, but also the many passengers on the highly popular vhh lines, which bring millions of passengers into the city or surrounding area every year. Not only are these buses quieter and more climate-friendly, they also offer passengers additional space, more comfort and barrier-free access. I would like to thank the federal government for supporting Hamburg in decarbonising its public transport system, as well as vhh mobility, which is resolutely and successfully accompanying us on this journey.’
Dr. Lorenz Kasch, Managing Director of vhh.mobility: ‘As the third-largest municipal bus operator in Germany, we are a key driver of the mobility transition. With the commissioning of a total of 95 new e-buses, we are reaching another milestone on the road to the complete electrification of our fleet. The integration of zero-emission buses into an existing fleet is a complex task. Success in this transition is the result of the commitment of our teams and the generous support of our main shareholder, the City of Hamburg, as well as federal funding that has enabled us to purchase 150 new vehicles from various manufacturers alone in this year.’
Till Oberwörder, CEO of Daimler Buses: ‘I am delighted that, together with vhh.mobility, we are able to make an important contribution to emission-free local public transport in the Hamburg metropolitan region. Our battery-electric eCitaro city bus offers an excellent overall package: Its modern electric drive system with a long range ensures that passengers reach their destination quietly and with zero local CO₂ emissions. What’s more, advanced assistance systems increase safety for all road users.’
The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV – Bundsministerium für Digitales und Verkehr) is funding the transformation of the vhh.mobility fleet to e-buses as part of the ‘Guideline for the funding of alternative drives for buses in passenger transport’ (Richtlinie zur Förderung alternativer Antriebe von Bussen im Personenverkehr) with a total of 60 million euros. Funding under this measure is also provided as part of the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP – Deutscher Aufbau- und Resilienzplan) via the European Recovery and Resilience Facilities (ERF – Europäische Aufbau- und Resilienzfazilitäten). The funding guideline is coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by the project management organisation Jülich (PtJ).
Image caption: From left to right: Till Oberwörder, Anjes Tjarks, Volker Wissing, Lorenz Kasch (Image: Herbert Ohge)
Source: vhh.mobility