A milestone on the path to zero-emission and sustainable local public transport in the city | The municipal utilities are procuring 16 of these state-of-the-art electric buses in 2025 and 2026. The arrival of the first vehicles demonstrates the city’s commitment to climate protection. The new e-buses are quiet, emission-free and offer passengers a modern and comfortable journey.
The buses are easily recognisable on regular routes. They feature a modern design and stand out with their new colour accents. “The arrival of our first electric buses is a historic moment for local transport in Kaiserslautern,” says Dr Arvid Blume, Managing Director of SWK Stadtwerke Kaiserslautern. “We are not only investing in a modern fleet, but also in the future of our city. We are committed to sustainable mobility and protecting our environment.”
At the same time, SWK is working flat out to establish the necessary infrastructure. It is setting up a new charging infrastructure, including a plan for renewable energy. In addition, the municipal utility is constructing a large carport to be used for charging, cleaning and parking the electric buses. “We are delighted about the relaunch of electric mobility in public transport in Kaiserslautern. Forty years ago, our public transport was also electric. But then the trolleybuses were taken out of service,” says Boris Flesch, operations manager at the transport company. “We are training our staff and ensuring that the charging infrastructure runs smoothly until the new bus fleet is fully operational. We are proud that we will soon be able to offer our customers an even better travel experience.”
Kaiserslautern and electric mobility: an eventful history | Kaiserslautern has a long history with electric mobility. As early as 1916 to 1935, electric trams shaped the cityscape and transported residents safely to their destinations. After a hiatus, trolleybuses (O-buses) were introduced from 1949 to 1985. These ran on electric power along Line 1 through Kaiserslautern. With the new electric buses, Kaiserslautern will return to electric mobility from 2025. This brings an exciting development full circle.
The municipal utility company is delighted to be taking this significant step in collaboration with Daimler Buses GmbH, Mannheim branch. As a regional company, the municipal utility relies on regional partners for its bus procurement. This not only strengthens the German economy but also continues a long tradition: the first buses to operate in Kaiserslautern in 1935 were already Daimler-Benz coaches. Today, almost 100 per cent of SWK’s bus fleet consists of vehicles from Daimler Buses.
With the introduction of electric buses and the expansion of the relevant infrastructure, Kaiserslautern is underlining its pioneering role in sustainable mobility. The switch to electric mobility in public transport is a key element in improving the quality of life in the city.
In the long term, the municipal utility company is thus also creating a healthy living environment for future generations. The citizens of Kaiserslautern can look forward to a quieter, cleaner and more modern bus fleet.
The Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) is funding the fleet decarbonisation project under the ‘Guideline on the Promotion of Alternative Drive Systems for Buses in Passenger Transport’ with a total of 3.2 million euros. Funding for this measure is also co-financed under the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP). NOW GmbH coordinates the funding scheme. It is being implemented by Projektträger Jülich (PtJ).