With the largest procurement to date, almost two-thirds of KVB’s buses will run electrically
KVB has ordered 78 e-buses from manufacturer Irizar e-mobility through Jebsen & Jessen e-Mobility. These include 38 articulated buses and 40 solo buses – the company’s largest bus procurement to date. The first deliveries are scheduled for October next year. This means that KVB will then be operating two brands in its e-bus fleet: the existing 118 VDL buses and 78 Irizar buses. Even in the “diesel era”, KVB operated with two brands, MAN and Mercedes.
With these additions, almost two-thirds of KVB’s own bus fleet will be electric. In terms of all buses operating on the KVB network, including those of subcontractors, this will amount to nearly half.
Modern technology with high passenger comfort
The articulated buses are 18.2 metres long, while the smaller solo buses are 12.16 metres. Each bus measures 2.55 metres in width and 3.4 metres in height. With an unladen weight of under 21 tonnes for articulated buses and around 14.5 tonnes for solo buses, both types can cross all Cologne bridges even when carrying large numbers of passengers. These dimensions are significant for Cologne’s narrow street network, the maximum clearance of underpasses, and bridge load limits.
The new articulated buses will offer a capacity of 110 spaces, including at least 43 seats – potentially more, depending on configuration. The solo buses will provide 70 spaces, including at least 30 seats, with seat numbers possibly subject to adjustment.
The e-buses are fully accessible and provide designated areas for pushchairs, wheelchairs and walking frames. Being electrically powered, they operate with very low noise levels both inside and out. Like all recent new vehicles, they will be fitted with air conditioning.
The batteries are a significant factor in the vehicles’ weight: energy is stored in units weighing 3.3 tonnes (articulated buses) and 2.75 tonnes (solo buses), which power the electric drive. Thanks to the use of renewable electricity, this operation is entirely climate-neutral and produces no harmful exhaust emissions. In addition to the batteries, though far lighter, the heat pump system also contributes to the overall vehicle weight, ensuring comfortable interior temperatures throughout the year.
The buses can be charged both at depots (depot charging) and at selected terminal stops (opportunity charging). Charging power via pantograph is approximately 350 kW for articulated buses and 290 kW for solo buses. The articulated buses’ electric motors deliver a nominal output of 285 kW, with a peak of 385 kW for starting and acceleration. The solo buses have a nominal output of 185 kW, peaking at 290 kW. A central motor has been chosen for propulsion. The e-buses are capable of 85 km/h within the KVB network but are slightly throttled.
With a battery capacity of 613.8 kWh, the articulated buses achieve a range of 180 to 230 kilometres. The solo buses, with 511.5 kWh capacity, cover between 200 and 260 kilometres. By comparison: the first KVB electric articulated buses, introduced in December 2016, had battery capacities of only 122 kWh.
The buses are manufactured at Irizar e-mobility’s facility in Aduna, Spain, with Irizar also producing the batteries. The electric motor, model Accelara, is supplied by Cummins from European production. Jebsen & Jessen e-Mobility (Hamburg) acts as Irizar e-mobility’s representative in the German market, providing comprehensive e-mobility solutions including sales, project management and after-sales service in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Jebsen & Jessen and Irizar e-mobility have been working together successfully since 2017, pioneering early e-mobility projects in German-speaking markets.
Procurement supported by the state of NRW
The acquisition of the 78 e-buses from Jebsen & Jessen / Irizar followed a Europe-wide tendering process, conducted between September 2024 and September 2025. A total of eight manufacturers competed for the contract. The final decision was made based on the best price-performance ratio, considering both cost and quality.
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is contributing financially to the purchase of the 78 e-buses. Funding is provided under Paragraph 13 of the NRW Public Transport Act as an investment of special state interest. The state will cover 60 per cent of the additional cost of an e-bus compared with a comparable diesel bus.
(Info: KVB)
