The transport sector is key when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Public transport operator Wiener Linien is phasing in low- and zero-emission buses as its contribution to meeting the City of Vienna’s CO₂ reduction targets. As of autumn 2020, 414 eco-friendly Euro 6 buses, 12 e-buses and two self-driving e-buses are already in operation, providing fast, safe, reliable and comfortable transport for almost 200 million passengers per year. What is more, the Wiener Linien bus fleet is set to become even greener in the near future to ensure compliance with the EU Clean Vehicles Directive.

Road debut for new drive systems

Anyone using bus lines 2A or 3A in Vienna city centre over the past few years will have noticed that these routes are operated by different buses than those on most other lines. The 8-metre minibuses that operate these services have been fully electric since 2013. Further road tests with e-buses from various other manufacturers are due to start in 2021. Two years later, the first of 62 new e-buses will go into operation on the Wiener Linien network. To support this development, a dedicated competence centre for e-buses is being set up at Siebenhirten in southern Vienna, and Wiener Linien is of course expanding its e-bus charging facilities accordingly.

Alongside electric drive systems, Wiener Linien is also pioneering hydrogen-fuelled vehicles, road-testing its first 12-metre hydrogen bus on line 39A in June 2020. The experience gathered in these road tests will be leveraged for the future roll-out of further hydrogen buses, with 10 such vehicles scheduled to be in passenger service in Vienna by 2027. The Wiener Linien competence centre for hydrogen buses is being installed at the Lopoldau bus depot.

Reducing CO₂ emissions, boosting the local economy

This focus on electric and hydrogen buses is progressively decarbonising Vienna’s public transport network, with heating and air-conditioning systems in the new buses also being low on emissions or completely emission-free.  With an investment volume of approx. 52 million euro, the project also enhances Vienna’s appeal as a location for business. The eco-buses are thus making a major contribution to the implementation of the Smart City Wien Framework Strategy, as well as the Economy & Innovation Strategy 2030. Alongside a number of other thematic concepts and sectoral strategies, the latter builds on the Smart City Wien Framework Stretegy and elaborates upon its objectives to support and facilitate Vienna’s transformation into a Smart City.

Contact

Wiener Linien

E-Mail: presse@wienerlinien.at