Electromobility

Sustainable mobility!

Mobility is a prerequisite for social participation and at the same time an expression of freedom and self-determination. Environmentally friendly and attractive public transport safeguards people's basic need for mobility. Local public transport makes a significant contribution to climate protection. In order to achieve the climate and noise protection targets nationwide, but also regionally, the transport companies are dealing with alternative drive technologies.

Transport associations and transport companies see a realistic perspective for the future-proof redesign of the mobility and transport system in the use of purely electrically operated buses in regular services. Electric buses run emission-free and quietly. The electrical energy required to drive the vehicle is stored in a battery system. Various charging systems can be used to charge the batteries.
 

The basic idea in Oberhausen

Wherever local trains and trolleybuses are operated, there are very powerful direct voltage infrastructures available, from which the direct current for charging the batteries of battery buses can be drawn. In North Rhine-Westphalia alone, these infrastructures are available in 14 cities, and in more than 60 cities across Germany. Oberhausen also has the appropriate infrastructure - tram line 112 runs here.

This infrastructure includes the substations, in which the direct voltage required to operate our local railways is generated from the urban medium-voltage three-phase network, as well as the contact line systems from which the railways obtain direct current with the help of pantographs. In order to be able to achieve a short charging time, a battery bus needs a high charging power, which these infrastructures can provide with little additional effort.

A feasibility study by STOAG and Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr has shown that stationary energy extraction for fast charging of electric buses is possible both at a tram substation and directly from the catenary at Sterkrade station and that the existing infrastructure and technical facilities can be supplemented accordingly. The first two Urbino 2015 electric buses from Solaris have been in service on routes 12 and 962 since October 966. Since mid-July 2019, line 979, which as a joint line of STOAG and Vestische Straßenbahnen GmbH (VESTISCHE) connects the Oberhausen district of Sterkrade with the central bus station in the neighboring town of Bottrop, has been used exclusively by electric buses. A total of four vehicles from the manufacturer VDL Bus & Coach of the type Citea SLF-E 120, three electric buses from STOAG and one electric bus from VESTISCHEN operate here.
 

Expansion of electromobility

The further expansion of electromobility is being prepared. At the end of 2020, 15 electric buses were put out to tender across Europe. Delivery has been delayed and is now expected for spring 2024. The new electric buses will be used on routes SB97, 952, 953, 954, 956 and 961. The four new charging stations at the Wehrstrasse, Goerdelerstrasse, Hirschkamp and Everslohstrasse stops will then go into operation to provide intermediate charging for lines SB97/952, 953, 956 and 961. 

The purchase of a further 2025 electric buses is planned by 22. 13 battery-electric solo buses and 9 battery-electric articulated buses are planned.