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Strategies for Enhancing the Eco-Friendliness of 1,100 Buses, According to Dr. Richard

Largest private Austrian bus company transitions fleet to alternative energy systems, calls for implementation of a climate ticket on the Vienna-Graz route from the Minister of Transport.

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Austria's biggest private bus operator is transitioning its buses to alternative power sources,...
Austria's biggest private bus operator is transitioning its buses to alternative power sources, urging the Transport Minister to introduce a climate-friendly ticket for the Vienna-Graz route.

Strategies for Enhancing the Eco-Friendliness of 1,100 Buses, According to Dr. Richard

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🚌 Emission-Free City Buses by 2035: The Shift to Green Mobility

In the spirit of sustainable living, all new city buses have been mandated to be 100% emission-free by 2035. As a result, bus manufacturers are racing to develop more efficient alternative drives.

Take Dr. Richard, a renowned local industry titan, for example. With a long-standing history dating back to 1929, this family-owned business, initially known as "Südburg Kraftwagen Betriebs GmbH," is fully committed to embracing electric mobility in urban areas. Their current CEO, Ulrike Schandl, recently shared with us their plans to gradually convert their fleet of 1,100 buses across 15 domestic and one Swiss location to electric drive.

To power these city buses, an impressive 1,700 solar panels (PV modules) have already been installed on their covered bus parking lot. An intelligent circulation and charging management system will ensure minimal charging downtime for city buses as they go green.

Meanwhile, owner Ludwig Richard expresses his satisfaction with the collaborative efforts between the company and politics, highlighting the smooth process compared to cities like Vienna, where the adoption of electric mobility in public transport seems slow.

🌱 Sustainable and Green:

In addition to their electric bus initiatives, Dr. Richard is currently using HVO100, a diesel alternative fuel, for their existing bus fleet. This diesel alternative, made from recycled cooking oil and fat residues, can save up to 90% of CO2 without requiring any engine modifications. However, the limited availability of the fuel poses a challenge. Nevertheless, Dr. Richard has secured a long-term supply of the fuel in Scandinavia, ensuring their progress continues.

🚌 Partnering with Flixbus:

For the past decade, Dr. Richard has partnered with German provider Flixbus, operating the highly-trafficked Vienna-Graz line up to 12 times daily. This route has transported over four million passengers since 2014. Although this bus connection supports reducing CO2 emissions by discouraging car usage, it is unfortunately ineligible for the climate ticket.

  1. In the effort to adopt green mobility, the company, Dr. Richard, is transitioning its fleet of 1,100 buses across 16 locations to electric drive, as part of a strategy initiated in 1929.
  2. Environmental-science plays a critical role in the company's commitment to sustainability, with the installation of 1,700 solar panels to power the emission-free city buses.
  3. To support the fleet's transition, the company collaborates with the finance department to optimize the circulation and charging management system, minimizing charging downtime.
  4. The automotive industry is experiencing a significant shift, as companies like Dr. Richard invest in climate-change mitigation through the use of clean-energy technologies in public-transit and transportation.
  5. In addition to electric bus initiatives, the company also uses HVO100, a diesel alternative fuel made from recycled sources, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 90%. However, the limited availability necessitates securing a long-term supply from Scandinavia.

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