Germany, RSV Reutlingen introduces 12 electric articulated buses from MAN as fleet electrification passes 40%

RSV Reutlingen has placed 12 new electric articulated buses into service, increasing the share of battery-electric vehicles in its fleet to more than 40%.

The Reutlingen public transport operator (RSV) officially received the new vehicles on 18 June during a ceremony attended by Mayor and Supervisory Board Chairman Thomas Keck and RSV Managing Director Thomas Görtzen. The fleet expansion forms part of the city’s long-term strategy to electrify public transport and reduce emissions in the city, located about 40 km south of Stuttgart.

With the delivery of 12 additional MAN Lion’s City 18 E buses, RSV has now 26 e-buses from MAN in operation. This latest handover, in fact, follows the deployment of the first 14 MAN electric buses, which entered service in 2023. The carrier has also in the past sourced vehicles from Mercedes.

Reutlingen expands electric bus fleet

The addition of the 12 articulated electric buses marks another phase in RSV’s fleet renewal programme. According to the operator, the electric buses now account for more than 40% of the company’s fleet.

The acquisition received financial support from the state of Baden-Württemberg, which contributed €3.44 million toward the purchase of the vehicles.

In brief

• How many buses has RSV newly added? RSV has introduced 12 new battery-electric articulated buses.
• What share of the fleet is now electric? More than 40% of RSV’s fleet is now electrically powered.
• How were the buses funded? The State of Baden-Württemberg contributed €3.44 million toward the procurement.
• What operating range do the buses offer? RSV states they can operate up to 400 kilometres per day during summer conditions.

The buses will be charged primarily during overnight hours using electricity generated from renewable sources. RSV states that the vehicles will also function as mobile energy storage units, contributing to electricity grid utilisation.

According to RSV, the new articulated buses are equipped with battery technology enabling operating ranges of up to 400 kilometres per day during summer conditions.

At the ceremony, Mayor Thomas Keck said: “Especially in times of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, it is evident how important it was to commit to a consistent electrification strategy as early as 2019. Both to achieve Reutlingen’s ambitious climate and noise reduction targets and to become more independent of fossil fuel markets and vulnerable supply chains.”

RSV Managing Director Thomas Görtzen added: “With the commissioning of the new vehicles, the share of electrically powered buses in our fleet increases to more than 40 percent. Our special thanks also go to the state of Baden-Württemberg, which supported the procurement with €3.44 million. This enables us to introduce state-of-the-art technology and sustainably strengthen the economic efficiency of public transport in Reutlingen.”