Coach-specific needs for charging and hydrogen fuelling infrastructure must be part of future plans to support zero-emission vehicles across Europe, Daimler Buses CEO Till Oberwörder has said.
Mr Oberwörder again used Busworld as a platform to call for coach to be helped in its move from diesel. Although Daimler Buses underlined its commitment to bring zero-emission to the long-distance and tourist coach market by 2030, he cites a lack of infrastructure as “a roadblock” to widespread conversion in the segment.
Against that background, from 2026 Daimler Buses will start to roll out public charging stations for battery-electric coaches and buses at what it says are “high-traffic tourist locations” in Europe.
The goal is to help to enable the use of those vehicles more widely. A pilot project with Cologne authorities will see four such fast-charging units installed near the centre of the German city. They will each provide a nominal 400kW and be publicly accessible 24/7.
Daimler Buses says more will follow in places such as coach parking at attractions and in other cities as part of an aim “to drive the expansion of high-performance charging infrastructure away from highways in the coming years.” Daimler Buses Solutions will be responsible for planning, construction, operation and maintenance.
Despite that work, Mr Oberwörder believes that for when the manufacturer’s first long-distance zero-emission coach debuts by 2030, the forecast “is not too optimistic” for charging stations and hydrogen refuelling points.
He also underlined a previous call for European Commission proposals around CO2 reductions from coaches by 2030 to be reduced to 20%, less than half what is currently scheduled.
Notably, Mr Oberwörder says that such relaxation is key to the sustainability of coach manufacturing in the EU. He adds that diesel is a long-term part of the roadmap for coach products from Daimler Buses and that efficiency will improve at Euro 7.
Against caution around long-distance zero-emission coaches, the manufacturer unveiled its low-height Mercedes-Benz eIntouro at Busworld. It has a maximum of 414kWh of energy storage via one or two 207kWh packs and comes at 12.1m, or 13.1m in the eIntouro M. Maximum range is a claimed 500km.
Peak seating capacity is 63. The eIntouro M shown comes with a centre sunken toilet and 48 Travel Star Eco seats. A ZF drive axle with a single motor is used.
On aspirations for long-distance, high-floor zero-emission coaches, Mr Oberwörder says that core to the design brief for Daimler Buses is range, luggage capacity and passenger comfort. Battery-electric will come first in that segment, followed by hydrogen.
The manufacturer is currently using a converted Setra coach as a “technology carrier” for hydrogen fuel cell propulsion.
Meanwhile, the eCitaro battery-electric bus is going from strength to strength, he continues. Over 3,000 have been delivered since 2018 and arrival of the NMC4 generation of energy storage in 2026 will represent a major advancement.
