Kempower builds one of Austria’s largest e-depot in Vorarlberg, scalable to 84 chargers

One of Austria’s largest charging depots for electric buses has been commissioned in Wolfurt, Vorarlberg, using Kempower’s distributed charging technology.

A high-capacity electric bus charging hub built with Kempower systems has entered operation in Wolfurt, supporting the electrification of public transport services operated under the KVG Vorarlberg network. The project has been developed by vlotte vkw, a subsidiary of regional utility VKW, in cooperation with Verkehrsverbund Vorarlberg (VVV), with Österreichische Postbus AG operating the buses.

Up to 125 battery-electric buses have entered service in Vorarlberg since the end of 2025. The Wolfurt hub represents a core infrastructure asset for supporting further fleet growth. By May 2026, the Postbus depot in Wolfurt is expected to become the largest electric bus charging site in Austria, hosting 66 electric buses and charging points.

Voralberg, Kempower e-bus depot for up to 84 charging points

The depot, located at the Wolfurt freight station, includes 54 charging points in its initial phase, each delivering up to 240 kW. The site is designed for expansion to 84 charging points. Power supply is ensured by a total transformer capacity of 5 MW, distributed across four 1.25 MW transformers.

Charging infrastructure is based on Kempower’s distributed architecture, separating power units from charging satellites. The initial 200 kW power unit is scalable to 400 kW, allowing flexible power allocation across multiple vehicles, Kempower points out in a press note.

The system supports both high-power charging during short operational stops and lower-power overnight charging. Intelligent charge management via Kempower’s ChargeEye software aligns charging profiles with bus schedules, aiming to maximize vehicle availability and operational reliability.

In addition to traction charging, the infrastructure enables battery and interior preconditioning, improving range consistency, energy efficiency, and passenger comfort.

“In a project like this reliable charging solutions are essential. We are setting up and operating the necessary infrastructure at the transport service providers’ locations – existing parking and storage areas at the Wolfurt freight station are currently being upgraded accordingly,” explains Philipp Österle, Managing Director of vlotte vkw. 

“By May 2026, the Postbus depot in Wolfurt will be the largest electric bus location and charging park in Austria, with 66 buses and charging points,” says Mathias Schönherr, transport manager at Österreichische Postbus AG. “The project shows how successful cooperation between partners can look – a real showcase project for sustainable mobility in Vorarlberg.