Saxony-Anhalt remains a diesel big ship: electric buses have no prospects!

Saxony-Anhalt remains a diesel big ship: electric buses have no prospects!

The current debate about e-mobility and the switch to more environmentally friendly forms of transport shows that we still have a long way to go. In Saxony-Anhalt, for example, Ronald Lehnecke, managing director of PVGS Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, sees great potential for electric buses in the fleet of 100 vehicles. Nevertheless, the reality remains harsh: There are currently no e-buses in use and the switch is considered hardly feasible. The reasons for this are the daily distances that buses have to cover and the need for intermediate charging, which requires new charging points - and that costs money that is often not available. The political demand for more environmental protection is becoming loud, but financial support has so far remained inadequate. In Saxony-Anhalt, the diesel bus continues to be the heart of the transport sector mdr.de.

So what does it take for real change? The questions are numerous: Is the power grid suitable for the new e-buses? What structural changes are necessary? And are there reliable funding programs that support municipalities in making the transition? Critics emphasize that the e-buses are not just a question of technology, but also of financial resources and political support.

Funding opportunities for environmentally friendly buses

In order to give some emphasis to the upcoming switch to e-mobility, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) has launched a new funding initiative. As part of the German Recovery and Resilience Plan, sketches for the procurement of climate-friendly buses can be submitted until September 10, 2023. The goal: by 2030, every second city bus should be electric. The procurement of battery buses, fuel cell buses and biomethane buses as well as the necessary infrastructure such as charging and refueling points are supported. The total funding volume is an impressive 1.75 billion euros, which will benefit around 5,000 buses with alternative drives [bmv.de](https://www.bmv.de/SharedDocs/DE/Press Releases/2023/057-wissing-saubere-busse.html).

But the requirements for funding applications are clear: the climate protection contribution and the context in which the buses are used are central criteria. It remains to be seen how many transport companies from Saxony-Anhalt can actually benefit from these subsidies. More than 250 companies are already involved in supporting feasibility studies - a good basis for easing the transition.

Commercial vehicles in climate-friendly transition

In addition to city buses, there are also interesting developments in the area of ​​commercial vehicles. As part of the funding program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in road freight transport, subsidies are provided for light and heavy commercial vehicles with alternative, climate-friendly drives as well as for the necessary charging and refueling infrastructure. Funds from the DARP are also available for this balm.bund.de.

The switch to alternative drives is not only important from an ecological perspective, but also important for the desired diversification of vehicle fleets in the region. But as with buses, the same applies here: financial support from the federal government is essential to actually implement the change. So it remains exciting to see how politicians' plans will develop in the coming years and whether the protest of environmentalists in the fight against diesel buses will actually be heard.