++ First all-electric, long-distance bus in Germany between Frankfurt and Mannheim
++ Cooperation with Greenpeace Energy and atmosfair: 100% clean electricity
++ FlixMobility paving the road to the future of mobility for long-distance travel
++ Multi-modal connections in France and Germany for wider sustainable mobility network
MUNICH (October 24, 2018) – Europe’s largest long-distance bus company is investing further into e-mobility. In April, FlixBus became the first company in the world to test all-electric buses on long-distance lines, beginning with a pilot from Paris to Amiens; on October 25, the second FlixBus e-bus will launch in Germany, traveling between Frankfurt and Mannheim. The German bus will travel on 100% clean energy provided by Greenpeace Energy.
“We want to help shape the future of mobility. Although e-buses are currently much more expensive to buy, we are convinced that this will be a worthwhile investment in the long run, for our company, our customers and the environment,” said André Schwämmlein, Founder and CEO of FlixBus. “As a provider, we are demonstrating that this is a potential turning point in mobility.”
#FlixElectric with GreenPeace Energy
The German Flix-E-Bus will operate two round trips per day, stopping at Frankfurt Airport and Heidelberg on its journey from Frankfurt to Mannheim. Thanks to the FlixBus partnership with Greenpeace Energy, the bus will run on clean electricity, saving approximately 82 tons of CO2 emissions in its first year of operations compared to a combustion-engine bus, according to a study by atmosfair.
“Our goal is to convince more people to opt for public transportation or to choose car or bicycle sharing. It is not enough to just switch to cars with electric motors,” said Sönke Tangermann, board member of Greenpeace Energy. “For vehicles to be climate-friendly, they must be powered by clean electricity, but we don’t only need a change in technology but also a change in the way people view mobility.”
The bus will charge once or twice per day and overnight via a charging station in the Mannheim Central Bus Station (ZOB) or a temporary charging station in Frankfurt. Each station has an output of 80 kilowatts.
FlixBus also has an ongoing partnership with the climate organization atmosfair, which provides a platform for the FlixBus CO2 Neutral Tickets, allowing passengers to offset their carbon emissions for any FlixBus trip, globally.
The Future of Long-Distance Mobility, With FlixBus in the Lead
FlixBus has already established itself as one of the eco-friendliest modes of transport, thanks to a modern fleet of buses and high capacity utilization across Europe and the United States. Those who use FlixBus save 80% CO2 emissions compared to a trip by car.[1]
In addition to the E-Bus offering, FlixMobility launched the FlixTrain brand in Germany in 2018. With routes between Hamburg-Cologne and Berlin-Stuttgart – and additional lines launching in 2019 – the FlixTrain offering connects with the existing FlixBus network in Germany, allowing people to choose the best method of sustainable travel for their needs.
“We have two consecutive trends taking place in the transportation sphere: people are becoming more mobile on one hand but also understanding the consequences that driving personal cars can have on the environment,” said André Schwämmlein. “Our mission at FlixMobility is to provide options for sustainable, environmentally-friendly travel to fit the wants and needs of travelers across Europe, the United States and in the future even more regions. We truly believe that comfortable, convenient and green travel is possible for everyone.”
About FlixMobility
FlixMobility is a young mobility provider, offering new alternatives for convenient, affordable and environmentally-friendly travel via the FlixBus and FlixTrain brands. Thanks to a unique business model and innovative technology, the startup has quickly established Europe’s largest long-distance bus network and launched the first green long-distance trains in 2018 as well as a pilot project for all-electric buses in Germany and France. Since 2013, FlixMobility has changed the way over 100 million people have traveled throughout Europe and created thousands of new jobs in the mobility industry. In 2018, FlixMobility launched FlixBus USA to bring this new travel alternative to the United States.
From locations throughout Europe and the United States, the FlixTeam handles technology development, network planning, operations control, marketing & sales, quality management and continuous product expansion. The daily scheduled service and green FlixBus fleet is managed by bus partners from regional SMEs, while FlixTrain operates in cooperation with private train companies. Through these partnerships, innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and a strong international brand meet the experience and quality of tradition. The unique combination of technology start-up, e-commerce platform and classic transport company has positioned FlixMobility as a leader against major international corporations, permanently changing the European mobility landscape.