RBO introduces 16 electric buses in Passau for regional services

RBO Regionalbus Ostbayern, a subsidiary of DB Regio Bus in Bavaria, has put 16 new battery-electric buses into operation at its Passau depot, raising the share of zero-emission vehicles at the site to roughly one-third. The deployment includes new charging infrastructure and represents one of the company’s largest single steps toward electrifying regional bus services in Lower Bavaria.

The acquisition of vehicles and charging infrastructure received approximately €4.5 million in support from the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport under the 2021 funding program for alternative propulsion technologies in public transport.

Ebusco e-buses for regional services

The procurement consists of 16 low-floor electric buses supplied by Ebusco. Eight units have already been delivered and are currently undergoing commissioning, while the remaining eight are scheduled to follow in the coming weeks.

Each vehicle is equipped with a 525 kWh battery pack, enabling an operational range between 400 and 500 kilometers under standard regional service conditions, the operator states. RBO states that this range is sufficient to cover its longest duty cycles without interim charging, including winter schedules when energy demand typically increases.

The buses will be deployed on routes within the Passau district as well as on services connecting the district with the city of Passau and adjacent counties.

In parallel with vehicle procurement, RBO has completed key infrastructure upgrades at its Passau depot to support overnight charging operations. The installation includes a transformer station, a grid transfer point, and eight charging stations equipped with two charging points each.

An integrated load and charging management system coordinates the charging cycles across the fleet. By smoothing peak demand and optimizing electricity usage. The layout also allows for future expansion with minimal structural adjustments, anticipating a larger electric fleet over time, RBO says.

Michael Karmainski, Head of the RBO Passau Branch: “With the 16 new e-buses, we will be able to operate more quietly and in a more environmentally friendly way across the Passau district. Even our longest duty cycles can be completed without intermediate charging — even in winter. The buses are identifiable through a special e-bus livery, but even without it, they are immediately noticeable. They operate much more quietly and no longer produce a cloud of soot when departing.”

Raimund Kneidinger, District Administrator, Passau District: “We supported the pre-deployment studies to assess practical and company-specific implementation. Today we are seeing the results of these efforts and mark an important milestone in the transformation of RBO’s fleet.”

Jörg Konrad, Managing Director, Regionalbus Ostbayern GmbH: “DB Regio Bus Region Bayern aims to transition its entire bus fleet toward climate-friendly propulsion. Our entry into e-mobility with 16 new vehicles represents a significant step and contributes to more environmentally responsible public transport in the Passau district.”