Electromobility is much more than just a bus Daimler Buses supplies the entire infrastructure

• The challenge together with Daimler Buses Mastering e-mobility
• Expert advice leads to tailor-made Electric vehicles
• 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 with new battery generations and fuel cell drive. Nevertheless, the following applies: Combustion engine out, e-mobility in – electromobility doesn't work quite that easily. If transport companies want to use electric buses successfully, they need a holistic view of their electromobility system. 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 at the centre of the electrification of city bus fleets, but it can only develop its full performance capability by embedding it in an overall system. Transport companies face a challenge and numerous questions when it comes to switching to electromobility

Who configures the eCitaro for the specific requirements of a transport company or a particular bus route? Who calculates how much electricity needs to flow to the depot? Who organises where and how the buses are charged as part of safe 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 other questions is very simple:
Experts at Daimler Buses. Together with partner companies, Daimler°Buses can supply the entire infrastructure for a bus from a single source as desired.

At the heart of the eSystem from Daimler Buses is the Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro. It is framed by eMobility consultation with operational optimization for electric buses, charging infrastructure and charging management, energy supply, as well as digital services and aftersales. Everything can be added on by Daimler Buses on request and is compatible with the facilities and systems of the particular transport company.

Expert advice leads to tailor-made e-mobility

This immediately includes comprehensive and competent advice. The starting situation of transport companies varies greatly. There are companies that also operate railway lines and are therefore familiar with the topics of electric operation and power supply. Others are breaking new ground and so far have only had to do with combustion engines. And there also private companies that have won a tender for electric buses and don't have their own infrastructure. The experts in the eMobility consulting department at Daimler Buses know a wide range of companies from their own experience, from small to large, and with the most varying requirements, and therefore have a great deal of expertise.

The experienced consultants work with the transport companies to determine where electrification should begin and where it is urgent. The process starts with particular routes and the associated buses. Consultants are based in Mannheim and Neu-Ulm and they maintain close links to the developers at Daimler Buses. This helps when it comes to the performance of future variants such as the eCitaro with a fuel cell as a range extender or, with new battery technologies. Advice is provided internationally: Consultants supervise multipliers on individual European markets who, in turn, look after the regional sales teams.

A specially created simulation program provides the basis for feasibility calculations. For individual routes, companies supply data on bus departure times, distances between stops, speeds and, if necessary, the altitude profile. The program converts the information into load profiles for the eCitaro.

This results in completely different concepts tailored to individual needs. In addition to the aforementioned circumstances, the composition of the fleets – solo or articulated buses – the daily operating route, and the operational duration, as well as the route and speed profile also play a role. Climatic conditions, such as tough winters or hot summers, with a high use of heating or air conditioning and corresponding energy consumption are pivotal in this context too. The feasibility study results in a coherent operating and charging concept.

Turnkey implementation from a single source – with strong partners

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

This applies to the charging infrastructure, charging management as well as fleet management, right up to the installation of buses at the depot and their ongoing communication with the control center – supported, for example, by in-house data analysis with Omniplus On or by its partner IVU Traffic Technologies – as well as the building work for the new construction or conversion of vehicle depots, from construction planning to construction measures and electrical installations. A major advantage: Partner companies and their performance capacity have been tested, and the charging technology in use is compatible with the eCitaro.

The result is tailor-made 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 have resulted in optimum vehicle deployment. At the same time, this generates 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 the installation and commissioning of the infrastructure, Daimler Buses doesn't leave transport companies out in the rain: 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 operational in stationary operation. This expands the economic benefits and further improves the environmental balance. One example is a new rectifier substation in Hanover for supplying trams and electric buses of the local transport company. The energy storage system serves as a buffer for using the recovered energy accumulated during tram operation and compensates for load peaks, supporting the provision of primary control power and enabling 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 covering thousands of kilometers.