Lower Saxony transport-operator KVG Braunschweig will convert around 25% of its bus fleet to electric. The current fleet of electric vehicles will grow to 48 full-size electric buses by 2023; KVG intends to procure six new e-buses this year.

In the medium term, KVG plans to station its battery-powered vehicles evenly at its Salzgitter-Lebenstedt, Salzgitter-Bad, Wolfenbüttel and Helmstedt depots.

The basis for the decision of the KVG Supervisory Board was the positive outcome of the Leo project, a trial of electric buses in line operation. Salzgitter-based manufacturer Sileo delivered three electric buses to KVG at the turn of the year 2016/2017. KVG successfully tested a Sileo S12 electric bus in line operations for cost-effectiveness, reliability, comfort for passengers and technical requirements.

The 12-meter S12 offers a lithium iron phosphate battery pack with up to 300 kWh capacity; specific energy consumption is from 0.7 to 0.8 kWh/km. Dual 120 kW traction motors propel the bus up to 75 km/h (46.6 mph). Passenger capacity is 39 seated and 51 standing.

The KVG received a subsidy of 40% of the procurement costs from the Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen mbH (LNVG) on behalf of the state of Lower Saxony for the purchase of the three existing electric buses. For the coming E-Bus orders, the KVG plans to combine funding from the state of Lower Saxony with the newly launched federal funds.