Daimler Buses said it will become a charge point operator and install its own public charging stations for electric buses beginning in 2026, with the rollout starting in Cologne and expanding to high-traffic tourist locations across Europe. The initiative aims to support the wider adoption of battery-electric buses, particularly in the long-distance coach segment where infrastructure has so far been limited.
Ahead of the official debut of the Mercedes-Benz eIntouro electric intercity bus at this year’s Busworld exhibition in Brussels, the manufacturer confirmed its first pilot site will include four fast-charging points of up to 400 kW each at Cologne’s Buspark Köln near the city centre.
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The stations will be available around the clock and accessible to buses from all manufacturers. “The future of buses is electric. However, setting up the necessary public charging infrastructure is taking too long. We want to provide important impetus with our charging stations,” said Till Oberwörder, CEO of Daimler Buses.
The project will be managed through Daimler Buses Solutions GmbH, a subsidiary established in 2023 to expand from depot-based infrastructure to publicly accessible charging hubs. The company will finance and operate the sites itself, with revenue generated through electricity sales.
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“After commissioning, Daimler Buses Solutions will take over maintenance and technical operation with its own service team. Property owners thus benefit from a charging infrastructure from a single source – without any investment or major effort on their part,” Daimler Buses wrote.
Cologne officials also highlighted the importance of the project for sustainable tourism. “Cologne is a popular destination for tour groups from Germany and abroad. We want to help ensure that they can also travel here easily in emission-free buses in the future,” said Ascan Egerer, Deputy Mayor for Mobility.
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Daimler Buses said the Cologne pilot is the first step toward a wider European rollout. It plans to add battery-electric coaches to its lineup by the end of the decade, with hydrogen fuel cell coaches to follow once infrastructure is more developed.
Source: Electrive
