One of Austria’s largest electric bus depots is under construction in Wolfurt, marking a significant expansion of charging infrastructure to support the electrification of public transport in the western state of Vorarlberg.
The charging hub, located at the Wolfurt freight railway station, is being developed for the Vorarlberg Transport Association, which has commissioned Österreichische Postbus AG to operate the region’s local bus services. The site has initially been equipped with 54 charging points delivering up to 240 kilowatts each and has been designed to expand to as many as 84 charging points in a later phase.
See also: Austria’s da emobil Integrates 2,600 Charging Points Into Cariqa Platform
The depot was developed by vlotte vkw, a subsidiary of illwerke vkw, in coordination with the transport association. Charging hardware and related systems are supplied by Kempower. The installation uses satellite charging units connected to centrally located power modules, allowing efficient use of space while enabling dynamic power allocation.
“In a project like this reliable charging solutions are essential,” said Philipp Österle, managing director of vlotte vkw. “We are setting up and operating the necessary infrastructure at the transport service providers’ locations.” He added that high charging power is required during short operational stops, while lower capacities of 30 to 50 kW per vehicle are sufficient for overnight charging.
See also: ADS-TEC Energy’s ChargePost Cleared for Grid Services in Austria
The facility is supplied by four transformers rated at 1.25 megawatts each, providing a total available power of 5 megawatts. A charging management system distributes electricity according to bus schedules to ensure operational reliability.
Leonard Lechner of the Vorarlberg Transport Association said the region has been operating electric buses since 2020 and plans to accelerate deployment. “By expanding the fleet, we are enabling our passengers to travel in an even more climate-friendly way,” he said. The association expects up to 125 battery-electric buses to be in service across Vorarlberg by the end of 2025.
See also: Renault, A1 Test Electric Cars as Emergency Power Source for Mobile Networks in Austria
Postbus, which operates the buses on behalf of the association, said the Wolfurt site will become the country’s largest electric bus depot. “By May 2026, the Postbus depot in Wolfurt will be the largest electric bus location and charging park in Austria, with 66 buses and charging points,” said Mathias Schönherr, transport manager at Österreichische Postbus AG.