The German government has allocated €270 million in funding for the procurement of approximately 1,000 electric buses to over 50 transport companies in the country. The certificates were handed over at the international VDV conference in Berlin earlier this week. This marks the third round of funding under the ‘Directive for the Promotion of Alternative Drives for Buses in Passenger Transport’ and brings the total number of electric buses funded so far to 4,200. While the BMDV mentions “about 1,000 vehicles” at 52 bus companies, the VDV speaks of 1,033 e-buses and 59 transport companies.
It is unclear which type of drives received the funding since the budget can apply to buses powered by CNG or overhead lines, fuel cells, and battery electricity. However, past funding rounds have seen mainly battery-electric buses being funded. Further funding rounds are planned for 2023 and 2024, and the BMDV budget totals €1.25 billion to be made available until 2024 for the procurement of buses and associated charging and refuelling infrastructure.
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Berlin’s transit company BVG and Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein are among the largest beneficiaries, with each company ordering 350 electric buses in March this year after receiving funding in 2022. Minister for Transport, Volker Wissing, expressed his satisfaction with the “huge demand” for the programme, stating that it “shows that transport companies focus on modern and climate-friendly buses.”
VDV Vice-President Werner Overkamp emphasized the importance of the federal funding programme, saying, “Hardly any funding is more targeted and drives development in the entire transport sector as effectively as this federal funding programme.” He added that federal funding was “indispensable” in the transition towards a more sustainable transport system. The funding can also be used for feasibility studies.
The German government’s commitment to electric buses represents a significant step towards achieving its climate goals and demonstrates the country’s determination to lead the transition to a greener future. With further funding rounds planned, the number of electric buses on Germany’s roads is set to increase significantly in the coming years, providing a much-needed boost to the country’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.
