One million electric kilometres for Stadtwerke Osnabrück’s VDL e-buses

The articulated electric bus fleet of Stadtwerke Osnabrück is celebrating a special anniversary: for almost a year and a half now, the 13 VDL Citea SLFA-181 electric buses have been running on the MetroBus line M1 between the districts of Haste and Duestrup, and have now reached the mark of one million electric kilometres travelled. The milestone has been announced by the operator tadtwerke Osnabrueck AG, that in April didn’t miss the occasion to celebrate the first year of operation of the new e-bus fleet.

Delivery from a second tender are underway (49 units), and by the end of 2021, all five MetroBus lines will be served electrically. At that time, the Stadtwerke fleet of articulated e-buses will grow to a total of 62 vehicles – making it one of the largest in Germany.

Stadtwerke Osnabrück bets on electric buses

“This anniversary is extremly important for us – emphasises Dr. Stephan Rolfes, director of mobility at Stadtwerke Osnabrueck AG -. The figure of one million kilometres travelled with electric is an impressive proof that electrically operated public transport works – and that the decision at that time to push ahead with the system change from diesel-powered to battery electric buses was good and right. “We are not the only ones who are enthusiastic about the quality and reliability of the e-buses – our passengers are too,” Rolfes continued.

sbrs GmbH in charge of charging infrastructures

Dr. Stephan Rolfes accentuates in particular the quality partnership with the Dutch bus manufacturer VDL Bus & Coach bv and with sbrs GmbH, the company responsible for the construction of the charging infrastructure. “The buses run almost trouble-free. Charging at the final stops and in the depot works without any problems – that makes you want to look forward to what is still to come,” he says looking ahead. The first buses of the second tender have already been delivered, and by the end of the year the next two MetroBus routes, M2 and M3 will be completely electrically operated.

62 e-buses in operation by end 2021

By the end of 2021, all five MetroBus lines will then be served electrically, and the Stadtwerke fleet of articulated e-buses will grow to a total of 62 vehicles – making it the largest fleet of its kind in Germany. “With the constant growth in vehicles, it will not take another year and a half until we reach the two million electric kilometre mark,” says the director of mobility. Such anniversaries would become more and more normal in the future. “The first million must therefore be honoured all the more”.