SWU celebrates record surplus and starts electric bus offensive in Ulm!

SWU celebrates record surplus and starts electric bus offensive in Ulm!

Stadtwerke Ulm/Neu-Ulm (SWU) can look back on a successful year in 2024. Despite a slight decline in consolidated sales to 695 million euros, a surplus of 4.7 million euros was achieved. The development in electricity production from hydropower is particularly pleasing, reaching around 113.7 million kilowatt hours, the highest production in 70 years. This positive balance is also related to the increasing use of electric vehicles and the switch to emission-free drives, which have had a decisive influence on demand in local public transport, as stadt-und-werk.de reports.

With an all-time high of 41.3 million passengers on local public transport, the SWU underlines its important contribution to mobility in the region. The company's investments of 97 million euros in the expansion and modernization of the regional infrastructure contribute to sustainable development and value creation of 246.1 million euros. Managing director Klaus Eder was satisfied with the results and emphasized the central role of the SWU in the energy and mobility transition.

Investments in the future of local transport

A promising project that will shape the future of urban transport in Ulm and Neu-Ulm is the procurement of 46 new electric bus routes, which is to be implemented by 2027. With this measure, SWU intends to make more than half of its city bus fleet emission-free. The new buses, some of which will replace old diesel vehicles, are part of a comprehensive local transport plan that envisages new routes and better frequencies for the two cities. The investments of around 34.6 million euros are intended to ensure that the most modern technologies are used in public transport in order to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, according to electrive.net.

The new electric buses are scheduled to go into operation in 2027; However, the SWU is dependent on funding because the costs for emission-free drives are higher and the federal government's electric bus funding has largely been suspended. Managing director Ralf Gummersbach emphasizes that funding from the states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria is of great importance for the implementation of the project. In addition, further investments in the charging infrastructure are required; the own contribution is expected to be 10 million euros.

On course for the mobility transition

SWU's strategy shows that investments are not only made in the vehicles, but also in the required infrastructure. Extensive expansion stages are planned for the charging infrastructure, which will be driven forward together with the renewal of the vehicle fleet. This is not only a step in the right direction for the region's climate goals, but also a signal for promising, sustainable mobility in urban areas, as ulm.de reports.

In summary, it can be said that Stadtwerke Ulm/Neu-Ulm, with a clear vision and extensive investments, is on track to actively shape the mobility transition and at the same time make an important contribution to regional added value.