Building an Electric Fleet

After an extended tender process lasting more than a year, Jebsen & Jessen e-Mobility and its partner brand Irizar have been awarded one of Europe’s largest recent contracts for battery-electric buses by Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe, Cologne’s public transport authority.

The agreement covers a total of 91 buses. The initial award includes 40 twelve-metre buses and 38 articulated eighteenmetre models, with an additional 13 buses added through an exercised option awarded via Schilling Omnibusverkehr.

Together, the fleet represents a substantial expansion of battery-electric capacity within the city’s public transport network.

The tender itself was marked by complexity and duration, with several review phases and pauses. Teams across sales, engineering and executive management were involved throughout, reflecting the level of coordination required to align technical capability, delivery planning and long-term operational support. The outcome points to a close working relationship between Jebsen & Jessen e-Mobility and Irizar, as well as confidence in their joint approach among European transport operators.

With deliveries scheduled for 2027, preparatory work is now underway. This includes range testing, technical coordination, training and production planning, alongside after-sales preparation. Following deployment, the vehicles will be supported over a 12-year operational period, covering warranty, spare parts supply, training and technical support.

As the project moves from contract to execution, its focus shifts from scale to durability, where performance will be judged over years of daily operation rather than at the point of award.