Daimler Buses is continuing to expand its public charging infrastructure for electric buses. Following Cologne and Munich, Daimler Buses plans to establish a third charging location of its own at Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB Hamburg). Initially, four fast-charging stations are planned, with the option to expand to as many as eight charging points. The company has signed a lease agreement with ZOB Hamburg GmbH, the operator of the facility, with the approval of the municipal owner, and has submitted the building permit application. Commissioning is scheduled for 2027.
Implementation and operation will be handled by Daimler Buses Solutions GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Buses. For the Hamburg Central Bus Station, this means that the charging infrastructure will be provided from a single source, without the operator having to make its own investments or manage technical operations itself. Daimler Buses Solutions refinances the offering through the sale of charging electricity. As the only bus manufacturer in Europe to date, Daimler Buses is building its own public charging stations for electric buses. The manufacturer sees significant potential in the infrastructure sector and is therefore investing through its subsidiary in expanding its infrastructure business over the coming years.
Steffen Germ, CEO Daimler Buses Solutions: “Public charging infrastructure for electric buses is a key enabler of the electrification of excursion and coach travel. With our charging projects in Cologne, Munich, and Hamburg, we aim to provide an important boost for the use of electric buses on key travel routes across Germany. Buses can charge where they already stop according to schedule. This makes integration into existing operations easier and helps our customers use electric buses efficiently and economically.”
By establishing its own charging stations, Daimler Buses aims to further improve public charging infrastructure, particularly for its first battery-electric intercity bus, the Mercedes-Benz eIntouro. The vehicle has been available to order since spring 2025, and the first customer handover is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. The Mercedes-Benz eIntouro is suitable not only for routes between urban and rural areas, but also for excursion services and shorter trips, which currently represent the most practical use cases for electric buses outside urban public transport. For a broader deployment of battery-electric intercity and coach buses, including services to more distant tourist destinations, however, a further expansion of public charging infrastructure is required. With its own charging points, Daimler Buses aims to provide an important impetus for this development.
Charging in the Right Place at the Right Time, for All Vehicle Brands and with Green Electricity
At ZOB Hamburg, Daimler Buses plans to install charging stations with an output of up to 600 kW. Bus operators will be able to charge their electric buses regardless of vehicle brand. The charging infrastructure will operate exclusively with electricity from renewable energy sources. Planned work includes civil engineering activities, the installation of high-voltage power cables, construction of a transformer, and installation of the charging infrastructure.
With more than 80,000 bus movements per year, ZOB Hamburg is one of Germany’s largest long-distance bus hubs. Central bus stations are particularly suitable locations for charging points because excursion and coach buses make scheduled stops there, either as an intermediate stop or as the terminus of a route. These scheduled dwell times can be used for charging. In addition, passenger facilities such as restrooms and food services are already available on site.
Additional Locations Under Review
Demand for charging infrastructure for battery-electric buses continues to grow. Daimler Buses Solutions therefore continuously evaluates additional public charging locations at highly frequented sites. The company works closely with experienced partners during construction. Once the facilities have been commissioned, the company’s own service team will handle maintenance and technical operations. Property owners, operators, and long-term users of sites where intercity and coach buses regularly stop can contact Daimler Buses Solutions with potential location proposals. Further information is available on the websites of Daimler Buses Solutions GmbH and OMNIplus CHARGE.
