Hochbahn e-bus fleets has covered 20 million km. +70 further e-buses will be introduced in 2024

Hochbahn electric bus fleet in Hamburg has covered 20 million kilometres so far. By mid-2024, the number of e-buses will grow to 260 vehicles (199 solo buses and 61 articulated buses), accounting for more than a quarter of the total fleet of almost 1,100 buses.

As of today, there are currently 242 battery-electric buses in operation (181 12-meter and 61 18-meter ones). By the end of the year, the number is expected to rise to 315 (237 and 78 respectively), Hamburg says. Therefore, the introduction of 73 e-buses is planned during this year.

The operator will have a new, first, all electric bus depot operational in 2026. According to plans, the new Hochbahn site in Meiedorf will host 130 e-buses serving north-east of the city. In mid-2023 the company has raised €300 million from institutional investors and will use this money to finance the energy transition of the fleet.

Hochbahn Hamburg, only e-buses since 2020

Since 2020, Hochbahn has only been purchasing zero-emission buses. These are currently being used at three locations (Alsterdorf, Hummelsbüttel and Langenfelde bus depots). The Harburg II bus depot will follow at the beginning of April.

The e-bus is increasingly becoming the standard. Since the first production-ready e-bus went into service in 2019, the growing Hochbahn fleet has covered more than 20 million kilometres quietly and emission-free, Hamburg’s operator states. “This has saved more than 22,000 tonnes of CO2 – an important contribution to achieving the climate targets of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg”, still sourcing from Hochbahn.

Robert Henrich, CEO of Hochbahn since December 2023, states: “We are on track with the conversion of the fleet to environmentally friendly drive systems. However, this should not obscure the fact that this is an enormous effort. This also applies in economic terms. The vehicles are still very expensive. What’s more, the federal subsidy is coming to an end. Nevertheless, our goal remains to have completely converted the fleet by the early 2030s.”