FlixBus will deploy eight battery electric coaches of the Yutong T12E model. Blaguss, Austrian partner of FlixBus, has acquired a total of twelve vehicles of this type, eight of which will circulate on the route between the two capitals.
The buses are equipped with batteries that offer a capacity of 466 kWh. FlixBus indicates a range of about 500 kilometers. The relatively short distance between Vienna and Bratislava (approximately 80 km) combined with the flat profile of the route makes the route primarily suitable for battery-electric operation.
The vehicles will be charged at locations in Vienna and Bratislava. According to FlixBus, photovoltaic systems combined with battery accumulators will be used in these places. The operator estimates a CO₂ saving of around 66 kg per 100 km compared to equivalent diesel operation. The route connects not only the city centers of Vienna and Bratislava, but also their respective airports. A total of 66 daily connections are planned.
FlixBus has already tested battery electric coaches in several markets. In 2024, for example, the company tested a Yutong GTe14 between London and Cambridge. Pilot projects were previously carried out in Portugal, Germany and the United States. The difference between Vienna and Bratislava is that from the beginning the eight electric coaches will run in the regular daily service.
The project was financed through private investments from Blaguss, as well as public funds from Austria and the European NextGenerationEU program. FlixBus highlights that the implementation is possible mainly thanks to the combination of a suitable route, high demand and adequate charging infrastructure.
The route is especially interesting for long-distance electric bus services because it demonstrates that battery electric coaches can be used not only in test projects but also in dense scheduled operations. The key factors remain route length, charging periods and the availability of high-performance infrastructure at the end points.
kurier.at (link in German), linkedin.com
