E-buses in Tux-Finkenberg

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary, a new era starts at the Tux Sportbus!

For 50 years, the Tux sports bus has been taking winter sports enthusiasts to the cable car stations and starting points for winter hiking, tobogganing and cross-country skiing.
Since March 2023, four electric buses have been in operation in Tuxertal.In winter 2023/24, three more e-buses will be added, thus converting the entire sports bus fleet to electric buses. This means that the entire timetable of the Tuxer Sportbus with its tight ten-minute intervals can now be covered by electric buses.

50 years of sustainable mobility in Tux-Finkenberg

It is exactly 50 years since the first "free sports bus" went into operation in the Tux-Finkenberg glacier region. At the time, this offer was something completely new for guests and locals. Since 1973, the buses in use have covered 8,000,000 kilometres and transported about 65,000,000 people. The emissions saved by the use of the buses and the resulting reduction in individual transport are enormous.

Another step towards zero emissions

The battery-powered vehicles are supplied with environmentally friendly, renewable energy in a forward-looking way, thus replacing about 122,500 litres of polluting fossil diesel fuel per year for 281,234 total kilometres.

Clever recuperation

"So far, everything has gone very well," says Andreas Kröll of Christophorus Reisen, taking positive stock of the first six months in which the new electric buses were integrated into the regular service to the Hintertux Glacier and the Schlegeis reservoir. The bus drivers steer the vehicles through the Tuxertal valley particularly sensitively and economically. "Through clever recuperation, the vehicle maintains speed on downhill runs without braking. In this way, the drivers increase energy recovery on the one hand and driving comfort for the passengers on the other," explains Andreas Kröll.

Up to 250 kW of energy flows back into the batteries. This reduces the energy requirement per 100 kilometres from the planned 151 kW to 99 kW. The buses are charged overnight at 400 kW Superchargers with green electricity.

Reliable

So far, the vehicles have each covered around 40,000 kilometres on the demanding mountain routes without a hitch. Passengers are enthusiastic about the pleasant and quiet ride in the air-conditioned e-buses, whether in sub-zero winter or summer temperatures. Moreover, there are no vibrations and hardly any driving noise in an electric bus.

New e-buses in winter 2023-24

In winter 2023/24, three more e-buses will be put into operation. This will make public transport in the Tux Valley - the Tux-Finkenberg Shuttle (bus line 4104) between Hintertux and Mayrhofen - largely sustainable and locally emission-free.