Oberallgäu - The district wants to commission an investigation into the possible use of electric buses in regular services.
The Oberallgäu district wants to make progress in local public transport with a whole package of measures.
One step in this direction should be the conversion of the bus fleet to regenerative drive technology.
From an existing study in the urban area of Kempten it is known that a large number of inner-city routes can be served by battery buses.
Simon Steuer from the Transport / Mobility Department at the Oberallgäu District Office, however, dampened the euphoria in the most recent meeting of the Committee on Public Transport, Energy and Climate Protection.
Range and charging options
On such routes - especially in the Oberallgäu - different conditions prevailed, such as longer inclines, apart from the heating requirement in winter.
Ultimately, circumstances that “suck” the battery, that is, reduce the range and thus limit its practicality.
In addition, the break locations would also have to be equipped with a corresponding charging facility, Steuer describes the scenario.
Regardless of these framework conditions, a so-called clean vehicle procurement law recently stipulated that a minimum quota of vehicles in municipal use must be operated with renewable energies.
This quota means that 45 percent of the vehicles used in the bus sector must be half of them low-emission (hybrid drives) or half of them emission-free (battery or hydrogen drive).
Compliance will be checked for the first time in 2025.
Oberstdorf has two e-buses
First of all, it is up to the bus companies whether and when they convert their bus fleets to “renewable mode”.
However, the district can intervene to control the design of the concession award for the public bus routes, explained Birgit Wegner from the district economic development agency.
The next new tender is due in 2026.
The market in Oberstdorf is currently a pioneer when it comes to e-buses, where two electric buses are now in service.
In addition to subsidizing buses with renewable drives, investigations are also subsidized up to half of the costs, Steuer emphasizes.
The administration recommends carrying out such a special investigation in order to clarify which bus routes in Oberallgäu are suitable for the use of electric or hydrogen buses.
Money for study
“The aim is to obtain knowledge for setting up a corresponding infrastructure.” The committee recommends that the district council plan the necessary funds for the investigation up to a maximum of 150,000 euros in the budget for the coming year.
In some cases, the regional transport companies have made their own considerations and developed strategies.
However, the companies consider the data to be relevant to competition and do not make them available to the district administration.
There is an agreement with other bus companies that an investigation should be carried out and that the necessary data will be provided - while maintaining extensive confidentiality.
Co-financing is being negotiated with these actors, according to Steuer.