5 Questions for Daniel Krauss

How did your idea to establish FlixBus come about? What challenges did you face setting up FlixBus, and how did you overcome them?

We started with a vision of making sustainable travel more convenient, flexible and affordable. I have known André Schwämmlein since our schooldays. During his time as a consultant he got to know Jochen Engert. It became clear then: together, we wanted to make a difference. When the market for long-distance coach travel opened up we seized the opportunity and in 2012 established GoBus, a startup – shortly after, we gave the company its new name FlixBus.

Establishing a company naturally always involves challenges. I can remember the early days when MeinFernbus was our biggest competitor. We really were competing neck-and-neck for the largest network and most passengers – until in 2015 we decided to merger with MeinFernbus. That really was one of the best decisions we ever made. Since then, the name FlixBus has remained – the vivid green design which is now our trademark came from MeinFernbus.

FlixBus recently announced a partnership with Daimler Buses with the aim of driving the development of electromobility in long-distance coach travel. How did the decision come about and what are your goals with this project alongside Daimler Buses?

Together with Daimler Buses and other research partners, Flix is working on the ELCH (ELectrified CoacHes) project. In order to manage and actively help shape the transition to new transport we must develop and test new drive systems and fuels for long-distance use. For that reason Flix has been working on various solutions to make mobility as sustainable as possible for quite some time. An important step here is transforming the vehicle fleet.

At ELCH, as well as with Daimler Buses we are also working with leading research partners such as the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Over the next four years the aim of the ELCH project is to develop high-performance long-distance electric coaches, and for these all-electric coaches to be market-ready according to schedule.

Can you tell us more about the technical aspects of the project with Daimler Buses, in particular as regards integrating electric buses in the FlixBus fleet?

ELCH is one of several pilot projects we are using to test various alternative drives and fuels. At present, various technical challenges still stand in the way of using alternative drives on long-distance coaches. In particular, operational flexibility and drive efficiency over long distances are issues that are yet to be resolved.

At ELCH we are testing an all-electric drive on two bus prototypes. As the world’s largest long-distance coach operator we are able to contribute with know-how and expertise. One important question always remains: how to make production and assembly processes cheap and efficient? The new drives will only achieve success on the wider market if the cost more or less compares with conventional systems.

Over the course of the project we will be constantly evaluating performance to determine whether the technology fulfils all the necessary requirements for long-term use within the FlixBus fleet.

FlixBus has announced a comprehensive sustainability strategy. What does that entail and what steps is FlixBus taking to promote even more sustainable and eco-friendly long-distance coach travel?

Our sustainability strategy is an important part of the Environmental, Social and Governance Strategy (ESG) at Flix. Our sustainability strategy covers four aspects: savings, reduction, offsets and commitment.

In 2022, the fact alone that our passengers chose Flix resulted in 800,000 tonnes of CO2 being saved compared with other travel options. As well as participating in ELCH and testing solar energy and biogas, as part of the HyFleet sponsored project, Flix is also involved in developing a fuel-cell bus with Freudenberg and ZF. Next to the transformation of our vehicle fleet our passengers’ commitment is very important too. Since the introduction in 2015 of a corresponding program with the NGO atmosfair, 98,000 tonnes of CO2 have been offset, the equivalent of travelling more than 3.7 billion kilometres by FlixBus.

We have also joined the Science-based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and are a member of the UN Global Compact. The SBTi outlines a clearly-defined path to reducing emissions in alignment with the Paris Climate Accords. The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest voluntary initiative that encourages businesses and organisations to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies.

How does this initiative impact your company and the industry as a whole?

We are confident of being able to get the first all-electric long-distance coach market-ready in the near future. That is another important step towards transforming our vehicle fleet.

At present, it is not clear which technology, if any, will make the overall running. A number of factors are important here, some of which will conceivably take country-specific requirements into account as well as local conditions and infrastructure. That is why Flix is keeping an open mind as regards technology – we expect there to be a mix of various alternative drives and fuels in future.