Goslar receives 5.8 million euros for the electric bus fleet of the future!

Goslar receives 5.8 million euros for the electric bus fleet of the future!

The Goslar region is taking a strong step towards environmentally friendly mobility. A great project to purchase twelve new electric buses has now been launched. Both Stadtbus Goslar, Allerbus Verden and KVG Braunschweig can look forward to total subsidies amounting to 5.8 million euros, which corresponds to a financial increase of 1.6 million euros for Stadtbus Goslar. This funding comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the state of Lower Saxony, which underlines the importance of the initiative. How regionalheute.de reports, the purchase of five articulated electric buses and seven electric solo buses is planned, and the fleet in Goslar is to be expanded to include four additional electric solo buses by the end of 2027.

The managing director of Stadtbus Goslar, Anne Sagner, emphasizes how important this funding is for promoting sustainable mobility. “It sets the course for the future of our public transport,” she says, pointing to the long-standing collaboration between the three transport companies to acquire funding. The aim is to make the application processes more efficient and reduce investment costs.

With the plans in Goslar, the city is joining the Europe-wide movement to switch to emission-free buses. As part of the EU's “Clean Vehicles Directive” (CVD), all member states must implement binding minimum targets for low-emission and CO2-free buses in local public transport by August 2nd. Agora transport transition informs that in many countries quotas of 45% “clean vehicles” will apply by 2025, which will be increased to 65% by 2030. This refers to buses that run without diesel – a clear direction that is setting the entire industry in motion.

However, the challenges of implementation should not be underestimated, especially when it comes to financing. While the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) is promoting buses with alternative drives, it is undeniable that electric buses are often twice as expensive as diesel buses. Nevertheless, there are also bright spots: The federal government is preparing a new funding guideline that is intended to support transport companies with the additional costs for electric buses, such as bmv.de reported.

By 2030, every second city bus should be electric, and thanks to this funding, the number of electric buses could more than triple. In Goslar, 44% of the bus fleet could ultimately be operated electrically by the end of 2027. Currently, cities like Hamburg and Berlin have already made important progress in the transition and show that the future of mobility is green.

The transport companies in our region have shown a good hand. With cooperation and targeted applications, they are sending a strong signal for an environmentally friendly future in local public transport. The development towards a sustainable and emission-free transport system is in the air - and the beginning has already been made!