Press Releases

Bombardier Transportation Co-operates with Mannheim University: Students Contribute New Ideas for E-Bus Project

21. February 2012 — Berlin
Transportation

Bombardier Transportation and Mannheim University of Applied Sciences joined forces in a project running from October 2011 to January 2012. Twenty-four engineering and management students developed business models for an electric bus project, which Bombardier is currently implementing at its Centre of Excellence for electric mobility in Mannheim.

“The presentations by the teams were outstanding and provided fresh new inspiration for our City E-Bus project”, said Michael Hirschböck, Site General Manager Mannheim, Bombardier Transportation.

“We’re always delighted by co-operation projects with companies that allow students to apply their theoretical knowledge to concrete business tasks,” said Prof. Dr. Yvonne Schoper of Mannheim University of Applied Sciences’ Faculty of Engineering and Management. “Projects of this nature enable us to prepare Masters students who are about to graduate for future challenges in a targeted and effective way, giving them a perfect start when joining the jobs market.”

The students developed various scenarios for a business model in the area of electric mobility under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Schoper and Lutz Ziegler, Business Development, Bombardier Transportation Mannheim. They took into consideration several parties involved with electric city buses: component suppliers, system suppliers, bus manufacturers, operating companies and energy suppliers.

“The business models produced by the students are an important step for our strategy and will help us to develop this strategy further with a fresh impetus,” said Ziegler. “The ideas of young people with a new way of looking at things are especially valuable and important.”

“There is enormous potential in the co-operation between companies and universities. We would be pleased to continue this collaboration,” added Hirschböck.

About Bombardier in Mannheim
Bombardier’s Mannheim site is one of the longest established centres of expertise for rail transport technology in Europe. On an area covering more than 40,000 square meters in Mannheim-Käfertal, approximately 1,000 employees are currently working on innovative solutions for the future of sustainable transportation. The site can look back proudly on more than 100 years of rail tradition. State-of-the-art propulsion systems for locomotives, regional trains and trams are designed and built in Mannheim. The site is also responsible for project management, marketing, sales and fleet management for locomotives, passenger transport, signalling and control technology as well as services. Bombardier established its Centre of Excellence for BOMBARDIER PRIMOVE e-mobility technology at the site in 2011.

About Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation, a global leader in rail technology, offers the broadest portfolio in the rail industry and delivers innovative products and services that set new standards in sustainable mobility. BOMBARDIER ECO4 technologies – built on the four cornerstones of energy, efficiency, economy and ecology – conserve energy, protect the environment and help to improve total train performance. Bombardier Transportation is headquartered in Berlin, Germany and has a presence in over 60 countries. It has an installed base of over 100,000 vehicles worldwide.

About Mannheim University of Applied Sciences
Mannheim University of Applied Sciences offers its students a scientific and application-oriented education thanks to close cooperation with internationally active companies and neighbouring universities in research and teaching. It is a nationally and internationally renowned campus university with an excellent standard of teaching evidenced by numerous rankings, intensive research, a clear orientation in respect to subject content and a broad spectrum of courses devised to meet the needs of the future. At the crossover between technology, design and social services, the university is developing further innovative courses that are in demand from both potential students and business alike. The close support and supervision by professors with practical experience, study placements abroad, the university’s diverse international contacts, collaboration in research projects and offers for acquiring key qualifications establish a firm basis for brilliant career prospects.

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BOMBARDIER, PRIMOVE and ECO4 are brands of Bombardier Inc or its subsidiaries.

For more information:

Bombardier Transportation
Immo von Fallois, Tel. 030 98607 1134, immo.von_fallois@de.transport.bombardier.com

Mannheim University of Applied Sciences
Bernd Vogelsang, Tel. 0621-292-6418, pressestelle@hs-mannheim.de