Daimler Buses will build its own public fast-charging network for electric buses and coaches across Europe, beginning in 2026. This is a landmark initiative. The company is now the only bus manufacturer in Europe to start building this essential public charging infrastructure. This aggressive move directly solves the major challenge for e-mobility adoption in the coach sector.
The project aims to enable zero-emission travel for both intercity routes and tourist excursions. Consequently, electric coaches can serve popular destinations far from major highways.
Geo-Targeted Pilot: 400 kW Fast Charging Comes to Cologne
The Europe-wide rollout will kick off with a significant pilot project in Cologne, Germany. This project will demonstrate the high-capacity charging technology needed for coach operations.
- Location: The charging points will be at the Kuhweg bus parking lot, a key hub for tourist coaches near the city center.
- Capacity: The plan includes four high-performance fast-charging points.
- Power Output: Crucially, each station delivers a nominal output of 400 kW. This capacity is much higher than the typical 50-80 kW used for overnight city bus charging.
- Accessibility: The stations will be available to all electric bus and coach operators 24/7. Moreover, they will run exclusively on green electricity.
Till Oberwörder, CEO of Daimler Buses, stated: “The future of the bus is electric. However, public charging infrastructure is taking too long to build. We want to give an important impulse with our charging stations.” The pilot’s goal is simple: to determine demand and usage for future network expansion across Europe.
Infrastructure Enables the 500 km Range eIntouro
The charging network launch provides crucial support for the company’s newest zero-emission vehicle. Daimler recently premiered the series-production Mercedes-Benz eIntouro electric intercity bus at Busworld Europe 2025.
- Range: The eIntouro is powerful. When equipped with two LFP battery packs (414 kWh), the bus achieves a realistic range of up to 500 kilometers in typical intercity operation.
- Charging Capability: The bus accepts charging capacities up to 400 kW. Therefore, operators can use the new public stations fully to minimize layover time on long-distance routes.
- Future Focus: Daimler Buses has also confirmed its long-term roadmap. The company will introduce battery-electric coaches by the end of the decade. Fuel cell coaches will follow. This ensures the public network supports a growing zero-emission fleet for years to come.
Daimler Buses Solutions: The Turnkey Advantage
The subsidiary, Daimler Buses Solutions GmbH, will manage the entire development and operation of the public charging infrastructure. The company uses a proven turnkey model, significantly speeding up deployment.
- Complete Responsibility: The subsidiary takes on the full scope of work: planning, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance.
- Benefit for Partners: Property owners, like municipalities, receive the complete charging infrastructure without major upfront investment.
- Financial Model: Specifically, the charging stations are financed, and costs are recovered through the sale of electricity to bus operators.
Ultimately, this integrated strategy provides both the high-range electric vehicles and the dedicated, high-power charging ecosystem. Daimler Buses is thus firmly driving the transformation toward sustainable coach travel across Europe.
Source: Daimler Truck
