First hybrid buses in Vienna

Wiener Linien is adding it’s first hybrid buses to its public transport operation in the next fortnight, in addition to the twelve electric buses introduced into the city centre.

The move is part of a bid to modernise their fleet of buses around the city and make Vienna transport cleaner and more environmentally friendly.

The new Volvo buses comply with new EU emissions standards and are equipped with a model that includes both an electric motor and a combustion engine. As a result, the company expects to make fuel savings of around 15 percent when compared with the conventional models. Six of the buses will be introduced to the 14a line over the next 14 days.

By 2016, half of the Wiener Linien fleet of buses, which comprises of around 500 vehicle, will be renewed – although most with Mercedes diesel buses. Vehicles using liquefied petroleum gas drive however, will no longer be purchased, the company has announced.