Starting in 2026, Daimler Buses will install its own public charging stations for electric buses and coaches, focusing on high-traffic European tourist destinations such as bus parking lots at amusement parks or in cities. The company aims to drive the expansion of high-performance charging infrastructure away from highways, enabling electric buses and coaches to serve more remote travel destinations.
“The future of the bus is electric. However, building the necessary public charging infrastructure is taking too long,” said Till Oberwörder, CEO of Daimler Buses. “We want to give an important impulse with our charging stations. Our new battery-electric intercity bus, the eIntouro, already connects cities and rural areas. It is also suitable for shorter trips. These are currently the most practical applications for electric buses and coaches outside of urban public transport. For long-distance travel to remote destinations, however, a comprehensive charging network is needed so that bus operators can use electric coaches economically and without compromising passenger comfort.”
The initiative will begin with a pilot project in the city of Cologne, Germany. Four public fast charging points for electric buses and coaches are set to be installed near the city center next year. Daimler Buses subsidiary Daimler Buses Solutions will be responsible for planning, construction, operation and maintenance.
The Buspark Cologne parking facility serves as a central location for all intercity buses and coaches taking tourists to Cologne. Bus operators will be able to quickly charge their electric buses and coaches—regardless of brand—with green electricity. Unlike electric city buses, which serve shorter routes and are usually charged overnight at 50 to 80 kW, coaches require especially powerful charging solutions. The four new fast charging stations will each provide a nominal output of 400 kW. The stations will be accessible to the public 24/7.
Daimler Buses debuted the series-production version of its first battery-electric intercity bus, the Mercedes-Benz eIntouro, at the recent Busworld 2025 trade show in Brussels. The vehicle can be equipped with either one or two lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, and achieves a range of up to 500 kilometers. The fully battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro city bus has been in series production since 2018.
Source: Daimler Buses
