busplaner Innovation Award 2022: Here are the winners

The trade magazine busplaner awarded the busplaner Innovation Prize 2022 on the eve of the BUS2BUS in Berlin. During the festive event at the Palais am Funkturm, the winners were honored. The evening was hosted by HUSS-VERLAG Managing Director Rainer Langhammer, assisted by Kerstin Kube-Erkens, Director of BUS2BUS.

Strong Vote

Previously, busplaner readers had chosen their winners. Despite the Corona pandemic and the Ukraine war, more than 1,000 transport and bus travel companies cast their votes – a significant increase in the number of participants compared to previous editions of the Innovation Prize. Among the 75 candidates and products nominated by the editorial team for the renowned award was the who-is-who of the bus scene.

Focus on Electromobility

A major focus of the readers' choice was in the field of electromobility. In four categories, electric, hybrid, and fuel cell buses were up for election. The coveted award in the field of electric city buses went to the Scania Citywide BEV. Among the fully electric intercity buses, the Solaris Urbino 9 LE electric, which celebrated its world premiere in autumn 2021, was at the forefront. MAN was successful with the eTGE Kombi and the Lion's City EfficientHybrid in the categories of electric mini- and midibuses as well as hybrid and fuel cell buses.

With the winner in the coach category, the Mercedes-Benz Tourrider, the busplaner Innovation Prize underlines its international orientation. Importers such as Michelin (tires) and Axion (assistance systems) were successful in several other categories. The field of air conditioning/heating was also hotly contested, with Eberspächer winning with the Clean Air UV-C LED module, which sterilizes air in coaches against, among other things, the Corona virus.

“The level of product developments is as high as the benefit of the products for the ongoing traffic transition. It is a joy to see the enthusiasm with which many manufacturers are addressing the ecological transformation in the bus industry. Whether future-oriented new models, whatever drives and components are behind them, assistance or air conditioning systems: The spectrum of innovative solutions was broad among the nominees,” praised HUSS-VERLAG Managing Director Rainer Langhammer the quality density of the competition.

Three Tourism Companies Honored

Three tourism categories rounded off the 2022 busplaner Innovation Prize. Here, the Erlebnis Akademie AG was as successful with its new treetop paths in the Alsace and on Usedom as the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle with their 2022 program "Take Your Time – The Garden as a Place of Recreation," and the tour operator Haman Scandinavia with its 2022 Group Travel Catalog.

The winners of the busplaner Innovation Prize 2022:

• Electric Buses: City: Scania Citywide BEV
• Electric Buses: Intercity and BRT: Solaris Urbino 9 LE electric
• Electric Buses: Mini and Midi: MAN eTGE Kombi
• Hybrid and Fuel Cell Buses: MAN Lion’s City EfficientHybrid
• Coaches: Mercedes-Benz Tourrider
• Diesel and CNG Buses (City/Intercity): MAN Lion’s Intercity LE
• Mini and Midibuses: MAN TGE Coach
• Vehicle Equipment: Grammer Ubility One
• Assistance Systems: Axion ICA Turn Assist AAS
• Air Conditioning/Heating: Eberspächer Clean Air UV-C LED Module
• Tires: Michelin X InCity EV Z
• Workshop, Depot and Accessories: Liqui Moly Orange Terpene Cleaner
• Tourist Attractions: Erlebnis Akademie AG – Treetop Paths Alsace and Usedom
• Destinations and Travel Destinations: Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle – “The Garden as a Place of Recreation”
• Group and Package Tour Operators: Haman Scandinavia – Group Tours 2022