Electric mobility is much more than just a bus – Daimler Buses supplies the entire 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 electric mobility 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, these rules apply: Combustion engine out, e-mobility in – electric mobility isn't quite so simple. If transport companies want to use electric buses successfully, they need a holistic analysis of their electric mobility system. With the eSystem, Daimler Buses delivers this from a single source, from individually configured buses to the complete depot 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 conspicious at the center 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 electric mobility.

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 in the course 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 on request.

At the heart of the eSystem from Daimler Buses is the Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro. It is framed by the topics of 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 deal 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. The consultants are based in Mannheim and Neu-Ulm, and are closely interlinked with the developers of 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 look after the regional sales teams.

A specially created simulation program provides the basis for feasibility calculations. For individual routes, the companies supply data on bus departure times, stop distances, speeds and, if necessary, the altitude profile. The program converts the information into charging 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. Climate conditions such as hard winters or hot summers with a high use of heating or air conditioning and corresponding energy consumption are also an influencing factor. 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. 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 charging infrastructure, charging management and fleet management right up to the installation of the buses at the depot and their 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 vehicle yards and depots, from construction planning to construction measures and electrical installations. A major advantage: the 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 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 the installation and commissioning of the infrastructure, Daimler Buses doesn't just turn its back on 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 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 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, 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 kilometres.