An incredible short story! Do you also have an idea on the subject of electromobility? How you can reduce CO2 emissions in public transport? We will be happy to support you!

October 2018:GreenTEC Campus GmbH, I SEE Electric Busses GmbH and Autokraft GmbH (all from Schleswig-Holstein) begin working together towards a common goal. As part of a demonstration project, they intend to convert a diesel bus (MAN Lions City 12 m) to a battery-electric drive as a pilot, thereby creating an economical and ecological alternative to the purchase of new electric buses and making a contribution to environmental protection.

"I have to confess something to you - I don't know if we will succeed in the project as we have imagined, because where will we get the financing from?". This was one of the sentences that were uttered within the project team right at the beginning of the idea, before the consortium of the PilUDE project approached EurA AG with the idea. PilUDE stands for: "Pilot for the conversion of diesel bus to pure electric drive".

     
 
The first step – the idea
Having an innovative idea is the first important step that start-ups, SMEs and research institutions as well as large companies approach us with. There are many great and sustainable companies in Germany and throughout Europe. But what unites them all is the challenge of having to be able to finance their idea. And that's exactly where EurA AG came in with PilUDE. We thought it was a great idea!
 
     
     
 
The second step – Promotion
EurA AG is a specialised partner in the field of funding opportunities at EU, federal and state level thanks to its large network and more than 20 years of experience as well as its broad spectrum of different staff profiles. This was also the opinion of the three PilUDE project partners, for whom EurA AG immediately found a suitable funding opportunity: Funding from the European Union - European Regional Development Fund (EFRE), the Federal-state Joint Task "Improvement of the Regional Economic Structure" (GRW) and state funding for economic and regional policy support in Schleswig-Holstein. The funding stood!
 
 
 
 
     
 
The third step – project management
But what use is the best financing if the partners are technically fit and motivated and now also financed, but realise that there are so many things to coordinate, organise and observe in such a project? Project management was needed. Applications, reporting, publication regulations, meeting deadlines - regulations in many forms. EurA AG's project management provided good support in this regard during the period from October 2018 to December 2019. Target/actual comparisons/raising awareness of the project/funding statements etc.... The paperwork was in the bag!
 
     
     
 
The fourth step – a joke at one point or another
A pilot bus wouldn't be a real pilot bus if there weren't challenges in retrofitting... That seemed to be the motto at one point or another, when here and there a component didn't fit as it should. In the end, the axle, battery packs and co. decided on the right fit after all. In addition to the regular exchange in the project manager meetings, the strong willpower and a joke or two at one point or another that united the team certainly ensured that all these challenges were mastered. "There is no innovation and creativity without setbacks", said Brene Brown. We agree with her on this one!
 
     
     
 
The fifth step– PilUDE-bus „on tour“
After many months of work, the result is impressive - this was also the opinion of Dr. Bernd Buchholz, Minister of Economics, Transport, Labour, Technology and Tourism of the State of Schleswig-Holstein and Jan Philipp Albrecht, Minister of Energy Transition, Agriculture, Environment, Nature and Digitalisation of the State of Schleswig-Holstein, who personally got a positive impression of the electric bus in Kiel during a test drive. Noiseless and emission-free, the bus was already able to convince at Busworld in Brussels and the Husum Wind trade fair - as well as with a TOP-5 placement in the Austrian Mobility Award. The submission has been confirmed as the right one!
 
     
     
 
The sixth step – now it really starts rolling
The red PilUDE bus is on the road on various routes in the Autokraft operation in Niebüll. It has "trickled out" they say. The aim is to offer this demonstration project for the conversion of further buses. More information on the conversion concept with a rental/leasing plan can be obtained e.g. from I SEE Electric Busses in the links below.
 
     

 

Our motivation

And because of success stories like this one, where we see our project and network partners standing in front of the result of their project with a happy and satisfied smile at the end, we give our motivation for your innovation.

projectteam-with-ministers-before-electric-bus

Copyright: DB AG, project tam with ministers in front of the electric bus

From left to right: Jan Philipp Albrecht, Minister for Energy Transition, Agriculture, Environment, Nature and Digitalisation of the State of Schleswig-Holstein, Frank Klingenhöfer, Member of the Board DB Regio Bus, Marten Jensen, Managing Director GreenTEC Campus, Dr. Bernd Buchholz, Minister for Economics, Transport, Labour, Technology and Tourism of the State of Schleswig-Holstein and Andreas Pfeffer, Managing Director I SEE Electric Busses GmbH.

Our contribution for you

You have an innovative idea and the technological know-how? That's a good fit, because we have made it our business to bring these ideas to life - that is what our employees have made their business and what we are passionate about. We will be happy to advise you at the Schleswig-Holstein branch on topics such as e-mobility, automated/autonomous and connected driving, unmanned and manned flight systems, renewable energies and hydrogen technologies.

 


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Author: Christina Petersen

Ralph Hirschberg

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Ralph Hirschberg

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