FlixBus launches electric long-distance bus service between Vienna and Bratislava
FlixBus will deploy eight electric coaches on regular routes between Vienna and Bratislava starting October 1. 66 trips per day are planned for this approximately 80-kilometer route.
Inauguration with, from left, Thomas Blaguss, Daniel Packenius, Barbara Novak, Hans-Jürgen Salmhofer, and Paul Blaguss
Photo: FlixBus / Mila Eder
Eight battery-electric coaches of the Yutong T12E type will be used. FlixBus’s Austrian partner, Blaguss, has acquired a total of twelve vehicles of this type, eight of which will operate on the route between the two capitals.
The buses are equipped with batteries with a capacity of 466 kWh. FlixBus claims a range of around 500 kilometers. The relatively short distance between Vienna and Bratislava, at about 80 kilometers, along with the flat terrain, makes it suitable for battery-electric operation in principle.
The vehicles are charged at locations in Vienna and Bratislava. According to FlixBus, photovoltaic systems combined with battery storage are used there. The operator estimates that CO₂ emissions are reduced by around 66 kilograms per 100 kilometers compared to a similar diesel vehicle. The route connects not only the city centers of Vienna and Bratislava but also their two airports. A total of 66 services are scheduled daily.
FlixBus has already tested battery-electric tour buses in several markets. For example, in 2024 the company tested a Yutong Gte14 between London and Cambridge. Previous pilot projects were carried out in Portugal, Germany, and the USA. The Vienna–Bratislava route differs in that the eight electric tour buses will be used in regular daily scheduled service from the start.
The project was funded by private investments from Blaguss Reisen GmbH as well as public funds from Austria and the European NextGenerationEU program. FlixBus notes that implementation is made possible primarily by the combination of a suitable route, high demand, and appropriate charging infrastructure.
The route is interesting for electric coach transportation because it demonstrates that battery-electric tour buses can be used not only in pilot projects but also in regular scheduled service. Key factors remain the distance of the route, charging windows, and the availability of high-capacity infrastructure at the endpoints.
