German transit operator Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen (SSB) has energized a new electric bus charging installation at its Stuttgart‑Möhringen bus depot. The entire charging system, which features 28 charging points and a charging capacity of up to 180 kW, was installed by Daimler Buses as general contractor, in cooperation with partners Omexom and Power Electronics.
Daimler Buses has supplied SSB with ten battery‑electric Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro G articulated buses and ten eCitaro G fuel cell buses, all featuring the company’s latest NMC3 battery generation. Daimler will supply SSB with 43 more solo and articulated buses, a mixture of the eCitaro, eCitaro G and eCitaro G fuel cell, by October 2026. SSB is replacing around 80 diesel buses, and plans to operate only electrified models on all city center bus lines by 2027.
At the Stuttgart-Möhringen depot, up to 28 electric buses can be simultaneously charged via the integrated pantographs mounted on the charging system frame, which lower to touch the charging rails on the bus roofs in a charging process known as panto down charging.
Each of SSB’s eCitaro G articulated buses has seven battery packs with a total storage capacity of 686 kWh. Each of the fuel cell buses is equipped with four battery packs with a total capacity of 392 kWh.
Daimler Buses handled the entire charging installation, including the steel work, electrical hardware, and the Sinos charging management system. The company will also provide a three-year service and maintenance contract. As general contractor, Daimler Buses supplies all components of the entire service package from a single source.
“With our complete package of charging points, electric buses and services, we are supporting SSB in advancing the electrification of local public transport in our metropolitan region, and thus becoming a role model for public transport operators in many other cities.” says Till Oberwörder, CEO of Daimler Buses.
Daimler Buses is currently building another charging installation for SSB in Stuttgart-Gaisburg, with 37 charging points, 33 of which are designed for charging by inverted pantographs and 4 for CCS2 plug-in charging. The first stage of construction is to start in autumn 2025.
Source: Daimler Buses