The German state of Bavaria has provided an annual report on its funding for alternatively powered buses.
According to the information, the government subsidised 500 so-called climate buses.
Last year, the government spent around 50 million euros to subsidise the purchase of 508 climate buses.
These include electric units, hydrogen buses and vehicles that run on HVO100 or biogas.
According to the Bavarian State Ministry for Housing, Construction and Transport, less than half of the subsidised buses had an electric drive on board – 220 to be precise.
In 2024, Bavaria also provided bus companies and municipal utilities with almost 15 million euros for the expansion or new construction of depots. The focus here was explicitly on the construction of charging infrastructure.
Bavaria’s Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter emphasises that the state has not only achieved its 2024 funding target in the bus sector, but has significantly exceeded it.
“We want to take all transport companies with us when it comes to changing drive systems and are ready to act as a reliable partner,” emphasises Bernreiter.
“We also need customised solutions for companies in rural areas, where there are still some difficulties with the use of electric buses. Our funding results and the high demand from all parts of the country show that we are responding precisely and flexibly to local needs with our funding.”
Background
In 2022, Bavaria increasingly focussed its existing funding for local public transport buses on alternatively powered buses.
Since then, e-buses, among others, have received higher and more prioritised funding.
According to Minister President Markus Söder, the Free State intends to subsidise 2,000 electric buses and their charging infrastructure by 2028.
In 2023, the budget was significantly higher than in 2024, with the government reserving 95 million euros (38 million euros for vehicles and 57 million euros for depot electrification).
One year later, it was 65 million euros for vehicles and infrastructure.
The subsidy rates are generally staggered according to vehicle length and drive system.
In Bavaria, electric and fuel cell buses are eligible for 30,000 euros for minibuses and 105,000 euros for articulated buses, with all kinds of gradations in between.
Modern diesel and mild hybrid buses were also still subsidised on a subordinate basis in 2024, but the diesel subsidy will end in 2025.
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