Context
The E-Mobility Competence Centre in Siebenhirten is the centrepiece of Wiener Linien’s electrification strategy. Covering nearly 8000 m², it is a state-of-the-art facility for the maintenance, charging, and parking of e-buses. In March 2024, the first completed sections were put into operation.
The project includes a new workshop hall with 2 service bays, 59 charging stations with up to 150 kW capacity, an administration building, and parking spaces for 60 buses. A photovoltaic system with 460 kWp supplies the building with electricity.
Wiener Linien already operates 60 e-buses and plans to convert operations on a total of 10 lines based at the E-Mobility Competence Centre to fully electric by 2026. The project optimises the ecological footprint of public transport and improves maintenance processes through digital systems.
The E-Mobility Competence Centre in Siebenhirten is a key element of Wiener Linien’s overarching climate protection strategy. It directly supports the company’s goal of becoming CO₂-neutral by 2040 and aligns with the City of Vienna’s climate strategy.
Objectives
Wiener Linien operates Austria’s largest public transport network, carrying nearly two million passengers daily. To meet Vienna’s climate targets and achieve CO₂ neutrality by 2040, fossil-fuel buses must be replaced with zero-emission alternatives. The challenge was to create a centralised infrastructure for e-buses that enables efficient charging, maintenance, and parking without expanding land use.
The E-Mobility Competence Centre in Siebenhirten addresses this need by providing a covered parking area with 59 fast-charging stations, a workshop hall with two bays, and eco-friendly staff and training facilities. The design ensures smooth bus operations, reuse of existing components, and additional space for articulated buses. Innovative solutions include waste heat recovery for energy efficiency, green roofs for storm water retention and cooling, and water recycling in the washing facility (≥80%). Timber construction reduces embodied energy and CO₂ emissions significantly. The new battery buses are true zero-emission vehicles with electric heating and CO₂ air-conditioning.
This project delivers a sustainable, future-proof infrastructure that minimises environmental impact while supporting the transition to clean mobility in line with the UN Global Goals (Target 9.4).
Implementation
The E‑Competence Centre Siebenhirten serves as a key element of the overarching climate protection strategy of Wiener Linien, directly supporting the company’s objective of achieving complete CO₂ neutrality by 2040 while fully aligning with the broader Climate Strategy of the City of Vienna. Through the execution of this project, several vital corporate strategic objectives have been advanced, most notably the transition from fragmented, decentralised setups to a single, centralised infrastructure hub. This centre provides the efficient infrastructure necessary to operate a fleet of 60 electric buses, advancing a systematic fleet transformation based on a clearly defined implementation road map. Additionally, the project drives process excellence and the continuous advancement of technical expertise by digitalising and optimising maintenance and charging workflows, improving overall working conditions, and cultivating comprehensive, in-house knowledge management in electric bus technology.
To support these operational changes, the project deploys a comprehensive, multi-layered communication and stakeholder management strategy. Internal communication is maintained through regular employee updates, specialised training programmes, and interactive workshops designed to upskill the workforce for electric mobility. Externally, the strategy focuses on transparency and community engagement, utilising regular press releases to highlight key project milestones and organising structured site visits. This is coupled with close, ongoing coordination with the City of Vienna and targeted, proactive communication with local residents to ensure community alignment. Finally, the project ensures accountability by maintaining public documentation regarding project progress and its positive long-term environmental impacts.