Daimler Buses launches public charging network across Europe

Pilot project in Cologne kicks off wider rollout as company debuts new eIntouro intercity bus at Busworld 2025.

Daimler Buses is taking a major step toward zero-emission long-distance travel with plans to install public charging stations for electric buses and coaches starting in 2026. 

Focusing on high-traffic tourist destinations such as amusement parks and city parking facilities, the initiative aims to expand high-performance charging infrastructure beyond highways and enable electric buses to serve even remote travel routes. The rollout will begin with a pilot project in Cologne, led by the regional energy and climate agency NRW.Energy4Climate in cooperation with the city. 

Four public fast-charging stations, each offering 400 kW of power, will be installed near the city center in 2026, allowing electric buses and coaches to recharge quickly with green electricity.

“The future of the bus is electric. However, building the necessary public charging infrastructure is taking too long. We want to give an important impulse with our charging stations,” said Till Oberwörder, CEO of Daimler Buses. “Our new battery-electric intercity bus, the eIntouro, already connects cities and rural areas. It is also suitable for shorter trips. For long-distance travel to far-flung or remote destinations, however, a comprehensive network is needed so that bus operators can use electric coaches economically and without compromising passenger comfort.”

Daimler Buses Solutions GmbH, a subsidiary, will oversee planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of the stations, providing turnkey infrastructure for property owners without requiring their own investment. The company is currently the only bus manufacturer in Europe building its own public charging network.

With this initiative, Daimler Buses aims to lay the groundwork for a Europe-wide charging network, paving the way for the next generation of battery-electric and fuel cell coaches by the end of the decade.