Hamburg has set its sights on an ambitious target. Starting in 2020, only zero emission buses are to be procured. This is an important element in the city’s strategy for eliminating diesel fumes and improving air quality.
Within a period of only ten to fifteen years, HOCHBAHN will have switched over its bus fleet, comprising some 1,000 vehicles, entirely to zero emission drives. In order to provide higher incentives and investment security for the vehicle manufacturers and to speed up the development of zero emission buses with innovative propulsion systems for regular services, HOCHBAHN has launched a joint procurement initiative. A letter of intent to this effect was signed on 30 August 2016 with the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG). Public transport operators in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Munich and Darmstadt have also come on board in the joint procurement initiative. Together, the companies are currently working on reaching a common definition of suitable concepts.
HOCHBAHN will open a tender process for ten new E-buses and the associated infrastructure before the end of this year. Further E-buses and the necessary recharging infrastructure will be put out to tender in 2018, to be delivered before 2020. The models are planned to be close to a series production type and the suppliers must guarantee their reliability, availability and range.