E-Bus Clean and quiet travel in Bonn
Bonn · Six E-Buses have been transporting Bonn passengers around the city since January. Depending on an evaluation at year’s end, there may be more to come.
Since the beginning of the year, they have been making their way up and down the streets of Bonn. You can see them but it’s harder to hear them. Six E-Buses have become part of Bonn’s city bus fleet, financed by European project “ZeEUS.” In Paris and London, “ZeEUS” also supports increased electric mobility.
City public works (SWB) spokesperson Veronika John says all city buses, with the exception of airport buses, could be exchanged by 2030 if the new technology proves feasible. Julia Huske, who rides the bus and trams on a daily basis, said she hopes this happens because one has to think about future generations. Mohammed Zimmerman says, “E-bus? I think it’s good because it’s much quieter than the others.” Passenger Calogero Granatella views it this way, “I think the technology will win out. It’s unfortunately just very expensive.”
The E-bus only has a reach of 200 kilometers but this is sufficient for the daily city bus routes, according to John. An analysis will be completed before 2017 to determine if it’s worthwhile to continue with the project. Because the buses are not produced in a series, they are very expensive right now. A normal 12-meter diesel bus costs around 220,000 euro and the 18-meter extra-long bus about 350,000 euro. An E-bus costs easily three times as much.
Around 92 million passengers use SWB trams and buses every year, but many hardly notice the E-bus. One passenger commented that the bus was extremely quiet compared to the others but the ride didn’t feel any different. And of course, it’s good for the environment. Bus driver Rainer Schneider, 53-years-old, said “I like to drive the E-bus. It has better acceleration and is quite snappy. It’s nice to have something new when one has been driving for a long time.” (Orig. text: Clara Geilen)
