Daimler Buses has announced that it will begin installing its own public charging stations for both electric buses and coaches throughout Europe in 2026.
The new initiative will begin with a pilot project launched by climate protection agency NRW.Energy4Climate in cooperation with the City of Cologne with the installation of four public fast-charging points.
Ascan Egerer, Deputy Mayor for Mobility, City of Cologne, said:Cologne is a popular destination for travel groups from Germany and abroad. We want to support the shift to sustainable drives so that visitors will soon be able to arrive conveniently with zero-emission buses. The fast-charging stations planned as a pilot project at the Kuhweg bus parking lot are therefore an important step towards sustainable tourism in Cologne.
We are delighted to be a pilot city for this project – at the initiative of the regional energy and climate protection agency NRW.Energy4Climate – and to drive the mobility transition forward together.
Daimler Buses’ subsidiary, Daimler Buses Solutions, will be responsible for the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of the charging stations.
Till Oberwörder, CEO of Daimler Buses, said:The future of the bus is electric. However, building the necessary public charging infrastructure is taking too long. We want to give an important impulse with our charging stations. Our new battery-electric intercity bus, the eIntouro, already connects cities and rural areas. It is also suitable for shorter trips. These are currently the most practical applications for electric buses and coaches outside of urban public transport.
The vehicle will already benefit from the expansion of public charging infrastructure. For long-distance travel to far-flung or remote destinations, however, a comprehensive network is needed so that bus operators can use electric coaches economically and without compromising passenger comfort.
Daimler Buses has also announced that it will reveal the series-production version of its first battery-electric intercity bus, the Mercedes-Benz eIntouro, at this year’s Busworld Europe in Brussels.
The new vehicle can be equipped with either one or two lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, and is capable of achieving a range of up to 500 kilometres.
The company has also stated that it intends to feature battery-electric coaches in its lineup by 2030, with fuel cell coaches next to follow.
Busworld Europe will also see Daimler Buses showcase its new NMC4 nickel-manganese-cobalt battery generation in the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro electric city bus at Stand 503 in Hall 5.
