Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (SSB), the public transport operator of the capital city of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, has not only had good experiences with the use of electric buses so far – in 2021, a Mercedes-Benz eCitaro burned down in the Gaisburg depot and destroyed 23 buses as well as the facilities. The topic was therefore approached quite cautiously. After a first fuel cell test bus from Mercedes-Benz a few years ago, the first 8 Caetano H2 City Gold fuel cell buses were put into service in 2023. There is a Mercedes-Benz eCitaro G in the fleet, too, as well as the newly presented eCitaro G Hydrogen fuel cell articulated bus model.
However, Stuttgart has set itself the goal of using emission-free buses on all city centre bus routes by 2027. To achieve this, around 80 diesel buses – out of a total fleet of almost 300 vehicles – will have to be replaced by new buses. The two bus depots in Gaisburg and Möhringen will be equipped with the necessary charging infrastructure for pantograph charging.
In order to meet the increased energy requirements for charging the battery-electric buses, the power supply from the grid is being expanded and strengthened at both locations. The integration of photovoltaic systems is also planned for both locations. In addition to the charging infrastructure in the depots, the construction of intermediate charging stations along individual city centre routes is also necessary in order to guarantee reliable operation in the future.
A total of 65 charging points (37 in Gaisburg and 28 in Möhringen) are to be installed as part of the project. This means that 65 buses can be charged in one night and additional buses can be recharged during the day. On this technical basis, it would be possible to set up additional charging points in a further expansion stage.
To supply fuel cell buses with ‘green’ hydrogen, construction of a hydrogen pipeline from Hedelfingen harbour to the Gaisburg depot is to begin in the first quarter of 2025.
The state is supporting Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (SSB) in setting up the infrastructure for emission-free electric buses at the depots in Stuttgart-Möhringen and Gaisburg with funding of around 24.3 million euros in accordance with the State Municipal Transport Financing Act (LGVFG) in the area of local public transport. The depot in Gaisburg is being subsidised with around 11.3 million euros and the depot in Stuttgart-Möhringen with around 13 million euros.
28.11.2024
