Graubünden’s first electric Postbuses take to the roads

From Monday, 30 January 2023, electric Postbuses will be in use for scheduled services in the Canton of Graubünden. These four buses are the first of eleven battery-powered vehicles that will be brought into operation by PostBus by summer 2023. This procurement enables PostBus to convert the following four routes between Chur and Bad Ragaz entirely to alternative drive systems:

The first vehicles are 12-metre-long battery-powered Scania buses. Graubünden’s first electric buses can have their batteries charged at the depot of the PostBus operator Dünser Bus GmbH in Trimmis, and later also at the depot of Karl Gessinger AG in Bad Ragaz. Intermediate charging is also possible at the Untervaz-Trimmis and Landquart railway stations. When the battery charge is topped up at Untervaz-Trimmis railway station, the energy is supplied via a pantograph, which is lowered onto the vehicle from above.

The first experiences with electric Postbuses have shown that various sides benefit. The vehicles are climate-friendly: PostBus forecasts that use of the 11 electric Postbuses will help to save a total of 610 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. In addition, these Postbuses are quieter and smoother than diesel buses, as there is no jolting or loud engine noise. This benefits passengers, drivers and residents who live along PostBus routes. The buses also accelerate faster after each stop, which improves punctuality along the routes.

Added value remains in the canton

In conjunction with its e-mobility provider PLUG’N ROLL, Graubünden-based energy provider Repower is responsible for erecting the charging infrastructure at the PostBus depots in Trimmis and Bad Ragaz and at the Untervaz-Trimmis and Landquart railway stations. Repower also supplies the necessary energy. In this case it is “VERDEPOWER Grischun” – electrical energy generated exclusively from certified, renewable sources in the Canton of Graubünden. This means that all added value remains in the canton.

Besides expanding the renewable energy business, Repower’s strategic objectives also include boosting electromobility. Repower aims to make a significant contribution towards successfully implementing the energy transition. “The example of PostBus shows that electrification is also making its way into the commercial vehicle sector with innovative solutions,” says Martin Schindler, Head of E-Mobility at Repower.

An important step for PostBus

PostBus is delighted to be able to take the first step towards climate-friendly road-based public transport in the Canton of Graubünden. The company is in the process of retrofitting its fleet throughout Switzerland to help combat climate change. By the end of 2024, the first 100 fossil-free Postbuses are expected to be on the roads, and by the end of 2040 at the latest, the entire current fleet of 2,400 vehicles will be powered in a climate-friendly manner. “We’re pleased that things are now getting underway in Graubünden and we’re already planning further switching to electric buses in eastern Switzerland,” says Roger Walser, Head of Market and Customers at PostBus, Region East.

With the largest bus fleet in Switzerland, PostBus has a lot of potential to reduce CO2 emissions and can also make a contribution within Swiss Post to help achieve the climate target. Swiss Post aims to be carbon neutral in its in-house operations by 2030. Swiss Post wants to achieve net zero across the entire company − including our value chain − from 2040. Switching the PostBus fleet to electric is an important part of achieving this goal. In this way, PostBus is taking responsibility as the largest Swiss public transport company on the roads.

Canton supports the project

In summer 2019, PostBus and Repower signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly tackle the switching of public transport in the canton of Graubünden to climate-friendly drive systems. Many issues then had to be clarified. It became apparent that many steps in introducing alternative drive systems to public transport are being taken for the first time. The canton of Graubünden has also made a significant contribution to the success: the Graubünden government and the Federal Office of Transport have agreed to cover the additional costs within the framework of the regular financing of regional passenger transport.