Speed up Deployment of 640 Electric Buses in Hamburg - Federal Financial Assistance Ends - Over 640 electric buses established in Hamburg – Federal subsidies depleted
Title: Hamburg's Electric Bus Bonanza: Execution Plan Unveiled Despite Funding Dilemma
Cracking down on emissions and shifting gears to a greener future, one electric bus at a time.
Hamburg's transport giants, Hochbahn and Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (VHH), have dramatically ramped up their electric bus operations, boasting nearly 640 zero-emission vehicles on Hamburg's streets. The Senate proudly declared that Hochbahn alone operates 363 electric buses, while VHH has 276 electric vehicles in service – making Hamburg a green powerhouse in Germany, according to a recent PWC study.
In a stunning announcement, VHH revealed that 277 out of their 847 buses are emission-free, thanks to the retirement of some aged minibuses. Nevertheless, Hochbahn managed to increase its electric bus fleet significantly since the end of November, with at least 84 additional vehicles hitting the streets. The companies plan to reveal their conversion roadmap for the entire 1,100-vehicle fleet at a press conference next week. Exciting news, Hamburgites! The Hochbahn has sealed a deal with Daimler Buses to receive up to 350 electric buses over the next five years.
CDU: Full Electrification by 2030 – A Dream Fading Away?
TheCenter-Right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) raised concerns over meeting the 2030 full electrification target. Hamburg's one-third emission-free public bus lines in May might indicate that the Senate has drifted away from the goal. Philipp Heißner, CDU member of the state parliament, voiced his concerns: “The Senate has stepped back from its commitment to fully electrifying the bus fleet by 2030.” The electric buses themselves are emission-free, but the additional heaters, primarily fueled by diesel, offset these benefits.
The arrival of summer signals the expiration of federal funding for new acquisitions, which are approximately 2.5 times more expensive than diesel buses. Despite the looming challenge, VHH spokesperson Lennart Meyer believes the transformation will continue at a brisk pace, with 283 electric buses on the roads by year's end, and an additional 150 electric buses expected to join the fleet in 2024.
VHH and Hochbahn: Lively Advocates for Federal Funding
The prospect of reduced federal funding has left the traffic companies on rocky ground. As Lennart Meyer stated, "The transport transition is a collective mission that necessitates federal assistance." The VHH looks forward to a second round of federal funding for their ongoing transformation and infrastructure expansion projects. "Without this support, it will become increasingly challenging to maintain the environmentally-friendly momentum," emphasized Jens-Günter Lang, technical director of the Hochbahn.
The City of Hamburg's commitment to eco-friendly transportation extends beyond electric buses, as exemplified by their investments in autonomous transportation infrastructure. With the UITP Summit scheduled for June 2025 and companies like MCV and MAN presenting their electric bus models, the future of Hamburg's public transportation seems electrifying. Stay tuned! ⚡️🚌🌱💪
- The Center-Right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is questioning the feasibility of completely electrifying Hamburg's public bus fleet by 2030, as the retired aged minibuses in VHH's fleet account for 277 out of their 847 buses, leaving only 570 buses to be converted.
- The firms, VHH and Hochbahn, are active advocates for federal funding to ensure the transition towards a greener transportation industry continues at a consistent pace, citing the transformation as a collective mission that requires collaborative efforts.
- Beyond the electric buses, the City of Hamburg is investing in other eco-friendly transportation sectors such as autonomous transportation infrastructure, showcasing a broader commitment to reducing emissions across various transportation policies in the finance, technology, public-transit, and industry sectors.
