Electromobility is much more than a bus – Daimler Buses supplies the complete infrastructure

• Overcoming the challenge of e-mobility together with Daimler Buses
• Expert advice leads to tailor-made e-mobility
• Turnkey implementation from a single source – with strong partners
• Comprehensive support, including recycling of batteries

One size fits all? Not when switching to electromobility with city buses. Admittedly, the range of the all-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro is increasing to the level of diesel buses thanks to new battery generations and fuel cell drive. Nevertheless, it's not just a case of combustion engine out, e-mobility in – electric mobility doesn't work quite so easily. If transport companies want to use electric buses successfully, they need to look at the electromobility system on a whole. With its eSystem, Daimler Buses delivers this from a single source, from individually configured buses to the complete infrastructure for the depot, including construction measures, electrical installations, chargers, charging management systems, and other digital services.

Overcoming the challenge of e-mobility together with Daimler Buses

The eCitaro is visibly the focal point of the city bus fleet electrification. However, it can only achieve its full performance by embedding it in an overall system. Transport companies face a major challenge and have to deal with a number of questions when it comes to switching to electromobility.

Who calculates how much electricity needs to be supplied to the depot or how much hydrogen is needed? Who organizes where and how the buses are charged and fueled to safeguard operations? Who oversees construction? Who guarantees optimum charging management so that every bus is on the road at the right time and at the lowest possible cost? Who monitors operations? The answer to these and numerous other questions is very simple: The experts at Daimler Buses can show the way to the right solution. Together with partner companies, on request, Daimler Buses can also supply the complete infrastructure from a single source in addition to the bus.

Expert advice leads to customized electromobility

First and foremost, this includes comprehensive and competent advice. The initial situation at public transport companies varies greatly. There are companies that also operate railway routes and are therefore familiar with electric operation and power supply. Others are breaking new ground and have so far only ever dealt with combustion engines. Furthermore, there are also private companies that have won a tender for electric buses and do not have their own infrastructure. Experts at Daimler Buses are familiar with a wide range of companies from their own experience, from small to large and with the most varying requirements. They can therefore provide a great deal of expertise.

Together with the transport companies, experienced consultants determine where electrification should start and where it is urgently required. The process starts with particular routes and the associated buses. Using a simulation program developed in-house, experts create feasibility studies based on customer-specific data and use them to identify coherent operating and charging concepts. These are tailored to the individual requirements of individual customers and take into account the composition of the fleets – solo and/or articulated buses – as well as the daily operational route and duration of use as well as the route and speed profile. Climate conditions such as tough winters or hot summers also play a role with an intensive use of heating or an air conditioning system and corresponding energy consumption.

Advice is provided internationally: The consultants supervise multipliers on individual European markets who look after the regional sales teams.

Turnkey implementation from a single source – with strong partners

Daimler Buses doesn't just content itself with theory, but also puts it into practice. It can be carried out in stages or all-inclusively as desired. Daimler Buses collaborates with strong and experienced system partners.

This applies to the power supply equipment, the issue of charging management and fleet management and the ongoing communication with the control center – supported, for example, by in-house data analysis via OMNIplus ON or by its partner IVU Traffic Technologies – as well as the building work for the new construction or conversion of depots, from construction planning to construction measures and electrical installations. Stationary storage solutions are also being considered. A major advantage: Partner companies and their performance have been audited, and the charging technology used is compatible with the eCitaro and eCitaro fuel cell.

This results in customized, all-inclusive systems for vehicles and infrastructure. Different battery technologies and charging strategies can even be used within a single fleet if this optimizes the respective routes.

The resulting e-systems lead to optimum vehicle deployment. At the same time, this results in the best possible cost structures. For example, intelligent charging management leads to both maximum fleet performance and significantly lower electricity supply costs: The utility company’s capacity is limited to the necessary extent and expensive load peaks are avoided.

Comprehensive support, including recycling of batteries

Even after the handover of the eCitaro and eCitaro fuel cell buses as well as the installation and commissioning of the infrastructure, Daimler Buses doesn't just abandon transport companies: Daimler Buses supports transport companies and their buses in their daily operations with tailor-made maintenance contracts and support concepts. This is also part of the turnkey customer solution from a single source.

Furthermore, the life cycle of a battery doesn't necessarily end with its use in a vehicle. It is generally still fully suitable for stationary operation. This expands the economic benefits and further improves the life-cycle analysis. One example is the new rectifier substation in Hannover, Germany that was created to supply the light rail and electric buses of the local transport company. The energy storage system serves as a buffer for using the recovered energy accumulated during light rail operation and compensates for load peaks. It supports the provision of primary control power and enables continued operation in the event of grid failures. The pilot storage facility has a capacity of around 500 kWh and consists of battery systems that were previously used for test drives in the eCitaro over thousands of kilometers.