Hamburg's Green Fleet Surges Ahead - But Federal Support Nears Its End
Hamburg's Fleet of 560 High-Speed Electric Buses Loses Federal Funding Support - Hamburg Welcomes Over 600 Electric Buses; Federal Financial Support Expires
Let's dive into the electric revolution happening in good ol' Hamburg. Hamburg's transport giant Hochbahn and its partner Hamburg-Holstein (VHH) are leading the charge, with a whopping 639 battery-powered buses taking to the streets. That's almost double the number of electric buses compared to Cologne and Berlin, according to a study by global consulting firm PWC.
More specifically, Hochbahn has been cruising with 363 electric buses, while VHH has been keeping up with an impressive 276 electric ride-Shoppers. Hamburg has surely staked its claim as a hotbed for electrification, positioning itself well ahead of the competition.
In December, VHH made headlines when they announced that 277 of their buses were emission-free. They claimed the decrease was due to the retirement of two old buses. While Hochbahn was reported to have nearly 280 electric buses on the road at the end of November, it's clear that they've added at least 84 fresh, green, power-packed vehicles since then. Guess they've been on a roll with plans to share the details of their future fleet development at a press conference scheduled for next week.
Up until November, the green transportation juggernaut, Hochbahn, had inked a deal with Daimler Buses to acquire up to 350 electric buses over the next five years. Big moves, right?
But, here's the twist - federal funding backing these new acquisitions will expire this coming summer. You could say, it's a bump in the ride for these forward-thinking transportation tycoons. VHH, however, remains optimistic about transforming their fleet and expanding the required infrastructure, aiming to reach 283 electric buses by the end of the year. Post-2024, they're planning to add another 150 electric buses to their fleet.
The future doesn't look too bright after the federal funding ends. A representative from VHH, Lennart Meyer, called the situation challenging. He emphasized that the transportation shift is a national endeavor that requires joint efforts and federal backing to succeed. The company is eagerly awaiting a follow-up funding decision at the federal level.
Jens-Günter Lang, a tech bigwig at Hochbahn, had also addressed the issue in November, warning about the challenges that would surface without a successor regulation to the federal funding. It seems the world of electrified transportation is speeding ahead, but only with the right support can these eco-friendly buses maintain the pace.
Now, while I can't spill the beans on Hamburg-specific federal funding, a quick look at broader initiatives reveals some promising moves:
- Wupsi in Leverkusen: The Federal Ministry for Transport is playing a significant role in the electrification plans, co-funding the purchase of electric buses in Leverkusen with an investment of €16.8 million. Additionally, state funds are being channeled to set up charging infrastructure[1].
- Banding Together in Germany: Electrifying transportation across Germany is becoming a communal endeavor, as cities and regions collaborate to develop infrastructure such as charging points[1].
- Daimler Buses in Lüneburg: Though not specifically in Hamburg, Daimler Buses have merely scratched the surface with their involvement in constructing an electric bus depot and supplying electric buses in Lüneburg. This deal suggests that electric bus infrastructure is on the rise in Germany[2].
These developments hint at supportive federal and state-level backing for electric buses across Germany. While specifics for Hamburg are yet to be disclosed, the broader trend suggests cities like Hamburg could soon benefit from similar funding initiatives to power their green dreams.
Stay tuned for updates from the world of electric transportation in Hamburg, Germany, and beyond!
[1] - https://onlinemerker.de/emission-free-buses-in-germany/[2] - https://www.damler.com/Global/en/Press/Releases/Pages/12_2020.aspx
- The federal government, through the Ministry for Transport, is supporting the electrification of buses in Leverkusen by co-funding the purchase of electric buses and setting up charging infrastructure.
- The electrification of transportation in Germany is becoming a collaborative effort among cities and regions, as they work together to develop charging points.
- Daimler Buses have started constructing an electric bus depot and supplying electric buses in Lüneburg, indicating the rise of electric bus infrastructure in Germany.
- With the increasing involvement of companies like Daimler Buses and collaborative efforts among cities and regions, there is a growing trend of federal and state-level support for electric buses across Germany, suggesting that cities like Hamburg could soon benefit from similar funding initiatives.
