Lucerne public transport operator launches three new electric buses

Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern AG has been taken delivery of the first three electric buses from a 50-vehicle-order placed late last year. The public transport operator plans to expand its electric vehicle fleet until 2040, when the whole thing is to be 100% electric.

The first of three new electric articulated buses from Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern AG has been in service since 24 February. They are the first vehicles launched under a tender for 50 electric buses that the Verkehrsverbund Luzern had announced at the end of last year. The public transport operator aims to electrify its entire fleet by 2040.

VBL states that the charging for the electric buses will mainly take place overnight, however, the company specified: “In some cases, recharging is also necessary during the day because the energy in the batteries will not be sufficient for all daytime use.”

The Daimler articulated electric buses will likely be used on route 19 (Lucerne railway station – Lucerne Friedental), but the operator points out that it could also be used on other routes. These are not the first electric buses in the fleet, however: In addition to the three new electric articulated buses, three standard electric buses have been in operation on route 10 since the end of 2021.

vbl.ch (in German)