mobility move: Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder visited the booth of Konvekta
At the mobility move 2026 trade fair in Berlin, Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder visited the Konvekta AG booth and learned about current developments in thermal management for electric buses.
The focus of the discussion was the company's CO₂ heat pump technology. Reiner Boland presented the system and its applications in electric buses to the Minister. The technology is designed as an integrated thermal management system and can simultaneously regulate the temperature of several key areas of the vehicle: the passenger compartment, the driver's area, the battery, and other temperature-sensitive components of the electric drive system.
Using this technology significantly reduces energy consumption for heating and cooling. At the same time, the system ensures stable operating conditions for the vehicle.
Air conditioning plays a significant role, especially in electric buses. Since there is no longer a combustion engine, no waste heat is available for heating. At the same time, thermal management is one of the largest energy consumers in the vehicle. Efficient systems therefore have a direct impact on range, operating costs, and battery lifespan.
Konvekta consistently relies on CO₂ (R744) as a natural refrigerant for this purpose. It is non-flammable, non-toxic, and has a very low global warming potential. CO₂ is also considered future-proof from a regulatory perspective, as it is not subject to neither the European F-Gas Regulation nor potential PFAS restrictions for synthetic refrigerants. For transport operators and vehicle manufacturers, this means that CO₂-based systems will remain usable in the long term, even under future legal frameworks, and thus represent a future-proof decision.
In the interview, Martin Schmitz from the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) emphasized that Konvekta is considered a "hidden champion" in the industry. The company has driven significant technological developments independently over many years and developed innovative solutions in the field of thermal management for electric buses at its own risk.
Konvekta was one of only six companies visited by Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder during his tour of mobility move 2026. The discussions at the exhibition booth underscore the importance of the company's technological developments and demonstrate the role that innovative medium-sized companies play in the further development of electric public transport.
