New E-Buses For German Transit

Four electric Mercedes-Benz urban buses have been handed over to Reutlinger Stadtverkehr (RSV), the public transit provider for Reutlingen, Germany.

“As a public transport provider within the region, we want to take responsibility and have emission-free vehicles in operation. RSV has to show the example – we’re all very much aware of that fact,” said Mark Hogenmüller, managing director of Reutlinger Stadtverkehrsgesellschaft mbH.

The eCitaro buses will operate on Reutlingen’s number 7 route, which is the town’s first-ever E-line. The line concept provides for the eCitaro to be charged at a new, purpose-built bus depot. In order to be able to completely cover the daily public transport requirements on this line, the vehicles receive intermediary charging during break times. To this end, the buses use the depot near the line’s final bus stop.

“Reutlingen is a good example of how the change in our mobility approach within public transport companies can work,” said Hermann Fröhlich, head of the South-West Sales Region at Daimler Buses. “In creating a new, purpose-built depot, RSV is already putting in place what it needs to fulfill the requirements of purely electric public transport for tomorrow. In supplying the eCitaro, we also wish to contribute towards their success in this field.”

Eight years ago, RSV tested electric buses in practical operations. The transport company can look back on the multifaceted experience made at the time and is now putting in place concrete plans for four further vehicles for its number 8 line. In the medium term over the course of the next five years, further electric buses will be procured until the public transport network can be served entirely by emission-free vehicles.