The increase in diesel prices is not yet reflected in PostBus fares. The company is covered for the current year and the next, but the question of a possible rate increase in 2023 remains open, according to its director.
If the price of diesel is still as high in a year, PostBus will have to discuss a price increase, explains Christian Plüss, in an interview with the newspapers of the CH-Media group. The cantons will then have to consider whether they want to bear the additional costs. Energy prices play an important role.
The company, which manages the entire Swiss Post fleet, is well on its way to switching to electric vehicles. A third of the entire fleet is already equipped with an electric motor. La Poste’s tricycles are already 100% electrified. For the distribution of parcels, Swiss Post wants to be ready by 2030 – and even before in the big cities.
Conversion complexe
The situation is more complex for postbuses; the company is still in its infancy: ‘We still want to acquire the last diesel bus before 2030’, says Mr. Plüss. These are complex processes with the sponsors, especially the cantons. PostBus underestimated the complexity of converting an entire system.
The acquisition costs of electric buses are almost twice as high as those of diesel vehicles. However, operating costs are lower. In the end, electric buses are still a little more expensive, but in a few years the prices will be comparable. The only uncertainty is the evolution of diesel and electricity prices.
After the lifting of the measures to combat the coronavirus, PostBus has caught up in terms of passengers. In March 2022, the decline was only 5% compared to 2019, according to the director.
/ATS