Saxony-Anhalt remains diesel bus land: Why e-buses are missing!

Saxony-Anhalt remains diesel bus land: Why e-buses are missing!

Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, Deutschland - In Saxony-Anhalt, the electric vehicles have the reputation of being a rarity. The number of registrations for electric cars and electric trucks are increasing, but the diesel buses dominate in local public transport (public transport). A look at the Dessau Verkehrsbetriebe (DVG) shows that despite previous funding, they have decided to purchase new natural gas buses that rely on organic earth gas instead of taking the step towards electric buses. This decision is no coincidence, because the high procurement costs and the lack of the necessary charging infrastructure, especially in rural regions, stand in the way. New diesel buses currently cost between 250,000 and 280,000 euros, while the purchase of an electric bus costs around 600,000 euros. In Halle, too, Hallesche Verkehrs AG (HAVAG) relies on a similar strategy with the use of only three e-buses, while the majority of its fleet consists of diesel buses. This confirms the assessment that Saxony-Anhalt will initially be a diesel bus country, as [MDR] (https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/Sachsen-Anhalt/energiewende-emobilitaet-verbetriebe-100~amp.html). So what does it take to initiate the turn to electromobility in public transport? Politics is required! The Federal Government has launched extensive funding activities, including programs to support electrical mobility, but the municipal transport companies only seem to make use of the funding offers. Funding for the purchase of electric buses can cover up to 80 % of the additional costs, but only if the right measures are taken. The DVG in particular has left support programs on the left instead of taking the opportunity to take the opportunity (https://www.bmv.de/shahareddocs/de/artikel/g/elektrifization-des-verkehrs.html).

challenges and stimuli

A great obstacle to the spread of electric buses is the lack of reliable charging infrastructure. According to numerous reports, the need for corresponding charging stations is enormous, especially in more rural areas. While there are often some charging points available in urban areas, rural regions still seem to be behind. However, German electromobility is currently very popular, in particular through the application for private companies, universities and authorities, which is defined in the funding directive of the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV), such as emcel.

However, the funding is not evenly distributed. There are a variety of programs that differ greatly depending on the state. For example, Baden-Württemberg offers the highest funding rates of up to 80 % of the additional costs for e-buses. In other federal states, this rate is often between 30 % and 60 %. The lack of uniform federal funding from 2024 could lead to the funding of the countries, which could further increase the regional costing differences.

look into the future

The assessment that Saxony-Anhalt remains with diesel buses initially is in a sharp contrast to the goals of the federal government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to improve air quality. How the low -threshold access to the funding measures can be achieved is not only the responsibility of the state, but also in the hands of the transport companies, which must have a good hand for the decision between diesel and electrical, in order to also find financially viable solutions.