Linz is going electric: Bus line 26 will start with electric buses in 2026!

Linz is going electric: Bus line 26 will start with electric buses in 2026!

From summer 2026, LINZ AG LINIEN will convert its bus line 26, which runs between St. Margarethen and the stadium, completely to fully electric buses. This premiere in Linz was announced on April 11, 2025. The entire process is supported by a positive funding application from the Federal Ministry, which granted LINZ AG LINIEN over 1.3 million euros as part of the EBIN funding (Emission-Free Buses and Infrastructure). The total investment volume for this groundbreaking project amounts to almost three million euros.

The new fully electric solo buses will be around 12 meters long and equipped with an engine output of 160 kW and a battery capacity of 445 kW. Each vehicle has space for 37 seats and 42 standing places. This modernization is part of a broader plan to renew the vehicle fleet, which will enable the city of Linz to have environmentally friendly mobility in the future.

Renewal of the bus fleet

LINZ AG LINIEN has previously announced that it will gradually replace 88 natural gas buses that have been in use since 2007 with a new generation of 76 hybrid-electric articulated buses and 12 solo buses by 2024. These new vehicles, which come from MAN, offer intelligent energy management, lower weight and economical LED headlights. The total investment for the renovation is 36.6 million euros. The first buses of this new generation are scheduled to go into operation by autumn 2024.

In addition, training courses for workshop and driving personnel are planned to ensure that all employees are efficiently trained in dealing with the latest technological developments.

Part of the bigger plan

The LINZ AG LINIEN project is part of a larger Austrian development to promote environmentally friendly mobility. As part of the EU recovery plan, the second funding call for the “Emission-free Buses and Infrastructure” (EBIN) program is being implemented, which has a funding volume of 28 million euros. The goal is to increase the number of electric buses registered in Austria from 184 to 682 by 2026. In this context, CO2 emissions should be reduced and air quality improved.

Support for companies in fleet conversion is simultaneously guaranteed by the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).