The Bremen city cleaning service is setting a clear example for climate protection and sustainability. In November, it presented its electric mobility strategy and part of the new e-fleet right in front of the townhall in the heart of the city. The fleet includes a Micro HG on FLUX and an X4 on Volvo Electric. 

The weather is changeable, but dry, in northern Germany, and the viewer is briefly reminded of the Bremen Town Musicians – just as the four vehicles are lined up in front of the townhall according to size. Not on top of each other, of course, but next to each other. And unlike the four rebellious fairy-tale animals, these ‘musicians’ are also very quiet.

ELEON, eSwingo 200+, FLUX and the Volvo ELECTRIC are to be used in both street cleaning and waste collection in the future and are the first in Bremen’s e-fleet. All eyes and the attention of the press are on them as the Bremer Stadtreinigung officially presents its electric mobility strategy together with the vehicles.

Kathrin Moosdorf, Senator for the Environment, Climate and Science, says: ‘The electric vehicles from DBS (Die Bremer Stadtreinigung) are not only an important contribution to keeping the city clean, but also to protecting the climate. They do not emit any pollutants or greenhouse gases into the city air, and they are also quiet. The fact that the fleet is gradually being converted to electric vehicles is an important step towards making Bremen climate-neutral by 2038.’

The fantastic four for a better carbon footprint

As part of its ‘Integrated Climate Protection Concept’, DBS has prepared a greenhouse gas balance in accordance with international standards. The result: a significant portion of the emissions in the transport sector is caused by the use of fossil fuels in the approximately 260 waste collection and street cleaning vehicles. In 2023, the fleet consumed approx. 1.3 million litres of diesel – a figure that the company wants to significantly reduce in the coming years.

Bremer Stadtreinigung has been working with ZÖLLER-KIPPER for many years. And of course, all vehicles are customised according to customer requirements anyway – but the Kombi Micro HG and FLUX is a very special one. Bernd Schmidt, Head of Sales, North Branch: ‘It is the first time that we have built a FLUX in and for Germany. A special customer request.’ FLUX is a Swiss company specialising in small electric commercial vehicles in the sprinter class. The two FLUX chassis have a Micro HG for emptying paper baskets at bus stops, in pedestrian zones and in parks throughout the city.

Also among the founding members of the e-fleet: an X4 on Volvo. Volker Ernst, managing director of Beteiligungsgesellschaft Abfalllogistik Bremen GmbH (ALB) is visibly proud: ‘We are proud to present our first fully electric refuse collection vehicle. The Volvo ELECTRIC has a ZÖLLER superstructure and has been used daily in refuse collection since 10 June 2024. The battery capacity is 375 kWh – which is currently sufficient for a full day of use. The employees are enthusiastic because the vehicle is reliable and quiet. It also reduces CO2 emissions by 25 to 30 tonnes per year. Another step towards a climate-friendly fleet.’ It sounds like the e-fleet will soon be growing and the four musicians will become a whole Bremen city orchestra.