Kempower drives forward the electrification of the NIGGBUS fleet in Austria
Ten e-buses save 680 tons of CO₂ per year
The transport company NIGGBUS from the Vorarlberg Rhine Valley, Austria, has taken a decisive step towards emission-free mobility: The fleet has begun its phased transition to fully electric buses, which will serve the greater Feldkirch area. Targeted expansions and the electrification of the company premises will allow NIGGBUS to operate up to ten electric buses by the end of 2025. All 28 of the company’s buses will be replaced by e-buses in phases, with an aim to replace three vehicles per year on average.. The necessary charging infrastructure is supplied by its partner Kempower, one of the leading providers of DC fast-charging technology for electric vehicles.
“We are delighted to be working with NIGGBUS and vlotte vkw to drive forward the electrification of local public transport in Vorarlberg and thus make a significant contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions in the region. Our fast-charging solutions are designed to ensure the availability of the e-bus fleet at all times and to meet the demanding requirements of daily operations. With this installation, we are sending a strong signal for the future of emission-free transportation,” explains Philipp Oppolzer, Regional Business Development Director Central Europe at Kempower.
The first electric bus has been in service since September of this year and saves around 68 tons of CO₂ per year alone. A further four e-buses will follow in November 2024. Depending on the charge level, an e-bus can fully recharge within three hours at the most.
NIGGBUS Managing Director Gerhard Pertoll explains:
The integration of Kempower technology enables us to precisely control the charging processes and ensure that our fleet is always ready for use. With a range of 300 kilometers per charge, the new e-buses are ideal for urban and regional transport. Every new investment we make reinforces our commitment to environmentally friendly, sustainable local transport.”
Sustainable investment in e-mobility and infrastructure
A total of €7.5 million is being invested in the transition to e-mobility by NIGGBUS. In addition to the purchase of the buses, the company premises were expanded by 3,000 square meters and equipped with the necessary charging infrastructure. The e-buses, which are optimized for urban and intercity transport, not only offer environmentally friendly and quiet operation, but also a high level of comfort for the approximately nine million passengers a year that travel with NIGGBUS. Each of the twelve-metre-long buses is designed for a service life of 800,000 kilometers and, after its time on the road, is used in its second life, for example as a stationary battery storage unit or as a valuable source of raw materials for recycling.
The planning and installation was carried out by Kempower’s project planning and distribution partner vlotte vkw GmbH, a subsidiary of illwerke vkw. “We are delighted to be part of this pioneering project. It impressively demonstrates that e-mobility also has a clear future for heavy commercial vehicles,” emphasizes Philipp Oesterle, Managing Director at vlotte vkw.
Intelligent charging infrastructure for an emission-free fleet
“Electrifying our fleet is just the beginning,” emphasizes Pertoll. “Our goal is to anchor sustainable public transport at all levels and actively contribute to environmental protection. With Kempower, we are already taking a decisive step towards achieving our sustainability goals. What we particularly appreciate about Kempower’s technology is the user-friendly and elegant design as well as the informative display with QR code for monitoring charging. The system runs smoothly and without any faults.”
The installation of ten charging points – Kempower Satellites each delivering 160 kW of power – ensures the depot is equipped of the new e-fleet. There is also a dedicated transformer that generates the required voltage of 800 volts from the medium voltage of around 22,000 volts (alternating current) and two Kempower Power Units with a total output of 800 kW. These serve as rectifiers and convert the alternating current into direct current in order to make it usable for the battery.
