Dornbirn is investing in green mobility: E-buses revolutionize local transport!

Dornbirn is investing in green mobility: E-buses revolutionize local transport!

The city of Dornbirn in Vorarlberg is sending a strong sign of climate protection and the turnaround in traffic: with an investment of around 4.5 million euros, supported by federal funding, e-buses will be on the streets in the future. The aim of this initiative is to save around 940 tons of CO₂ annually, which should benefit not only the environment but also the urban industry. The e-buses are also likely to lead to lower operating costs and lower maintenance. According to vorarlberg.orf.at , extensive test runs have already been carried out for the reach and suitability of the new vehicles.

The switch to electromobility in public transport is not just a Vorarlberg trend. All over Germany, you strive to operate every second city bus electrically by 2030. The boom in the e-bus industry is clearly noticeable, but the challenges are remarkable. The acquisition costs for a pure batteryus are around 550,000 euros - almost two and a half times as much as that of a diesel bus. In addition, there is often a lack of the necessary charging infrastructure. So far, only around 2.4 percent of the public transport fleet in Germany have been electrically. This situation is critical because both the Association of German Transport Companies and experts believe that the climate goals cannot be reached if the federal government does not raise the funding. From 2026, the EU's direct affair also prescribes compulsory quotas for emission -free buses to advance the traffic turnaround. According to tagesschau.de , over 3200 electric buses are already on Germany by the end of 2023, but the need for further funding is obvious.

Austria's progress in the e-bus area

In Vorarlberg, the use of e-buses has already gained a foothold. Cities like Rankweil and Feldkirch have introduced e-buses in regular traffic, and Bludenz also joined electrification in 2022. By the end of 2025, up to 130 emission-free buses are to be used in Vorarlberg, which promises significant savings from diesel and CO₂ emissions. The Vorarlberg transport network sees the changeover as an outstanding opportunity to modernize and improve air quality. However, the pressure on the municipalities and transport companies to implement this electrical revolution remains high, and it remains to be seen whether the desired climate goals can actually be achieved.