all projects

Promoting the use of electric buses in local public transport

Client

Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK)

Year

2024

Partner

PwC, Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg (ifeu), CP/COMPARTNER Agency for Communication, EEBC European Electrical Bus Company


How can we achieve a shift in local public transport?

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection has been funding the market launch of e-buses since 2018. Together with ifeu, CP/COMPARTNER Agentur für Kommunikation and EEBC European Electrical Bus Company, we investigated how effective this funding has been.

These are the results:

  • Increase in the e-bus fleet: At the beginning of the funding period in 2018, there were only about 200 e-buses in Germany. By 2023, this number had increased to over 2,600 vehicles. Of these, around 1,500 additional e-buses can be directly attributed to the funding program.
  • Broad support: The BMWK funded 50 battery bus projects with 65 transport companies in 13 federal states, providing 478 million euros for this purpose.
  • Strong market position: The market share of German e-bus manufacturers rose from 18.5 percent to 63 percent in the same period. In 2023, 96 percent of the battery buses receiving funding were produced in Germany and Europe.
  • More powerful batteries: Between 2020 and 2023, the average battery capacity increased by about 35 percent – from around 260 to about 350 kilowatt hours.
  • Greater range: The daily mileage of battery buses increased by 27 percent – from 135 to 172 kilometers.

Our approach

Prognos analysed the electric bus market in Germany by means of a comprehensive industry analysis, in which market data on fleet development, market shares and industry structure were evaluated.

In addition, a detailed cost comparison was carried out between electric and diesel buses for different bus categories, which took into account not only the acquisition costs but also the operating and maintenance costs. This determined the extent to which the funding addressed the additional costs for electric buses. This provided crucial insights for the evaluation of the funding measures.

Links and downloads

Study (PDF)

More information at PWC (in German) 

Project team: Alex Auf der Maur, Maike Breitzke, Nils Brüggeshemke, Thomas Hans Berr Craemer, Julia Dick, Ben Gibbels, Alexander Labinsky, Tim Trachsel

Last update: 12.12.2024

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Alex Auf der Maur

Senior Project Manager

View profile

Mehr Studien & Projekte zu diesem Thema

More studies & projects on this topic

Carbon management study for the state of Brandenburg

2025
| Project

Prognos examined for the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy and Climate Protection of the State of Brandenburg what role CO2 capture, usage and storage could play in the state.

Mid-term review of the Hamburg ERDF programme

2025
| Project

The Hanseatic City of Hamburg has the smallest ERDF programme in Germany. Prognos reviewed whether the programme objectives are being achieved and whether adjustments are necessary.

Ressource efficiency in Bavaria

2025
| Project

Bavarian industry requires large quantities of raw materials. Our study shows how critical materials can be used efficiently and important savings potential identified.

Smart specialisation in Turkey's regions

ongoing
| Project

Prognos supports the CEDIS3 project. The aim is to enable national and regional stakeholders in Turkey to develop and implement viable strategies for smart specialisation.

Sustainability
management concept
for municipal energy
management

2025
| Project

Prognos and bridgingIT developed a concept for future internal sustainability management for a customer in the municipal energy sector.

Prognos article in the European magazine TerritoriALL

2025
| Project update

What impact do global crises have on regional labour markets? The 15th issue of TerritoriALL magazine reports on the OVERLAP project carried out by Prognos.

Design and implementation of the Resilience Expo

ongoing
| Project

Prognos is supporting the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of the Environment in organising, implementing and establishing the world's first trade exhibition for the climate adaptation industry.

Mid-term evaluation of the public sector loan facility

2025
| Project

The Public Sector Loan Facility is an EU financial instrument to ensure a socially just transition to climate neutrality in the regions. Prognos and t33 srl evaluated the instrument.

German industry’s resilience and sovereignty

2025
| Project

German industry is heavily dependent on raw materials and intermediate products from abroad, especially from China. Prognos analysed supply chains and developed recommendations for action.

Evaluation of the ‘Innovative University’ funding initiative

ongoing
| Project

How can innovations be implemented in practice? This is where the BMBF's ‘Innovative University’ funding initiative comes in. Prognos and Fraunhofer ISI are evaluating the programme.

About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

Learn more