Several years ago, Basel became one of the first cities in Switzerland to commit to making its entire public transport system climate neutral by 2027. This pledge is now being made a reality through the project Bussystem 2027. Initial testing got underway in 2019 with an all-electric bus known as the Stromnibus. Its low consumption on the scheduled routes, which are up to 350 kilometres long, pleasantly surprised the planners at the time. Even this first model featured roof-mounted pantographs for charging the batteries... perhaps intended to evoke BVB's trolleybus system, which was part of Basel's public transport network for almost 70 years before being finally discontinued in 2008. The vehicle-mounted pantographs were primarily included in the plan to “improve and simplify the way drivers charge their vehicles as part of the depot strategy”, according to Mike Eiche, Deputy Head of the BVB Bus Service Centre, who has been with the company since 2018. The buses are looked after by a total of around 35 workshop employees, ten of whom have received comprehensive high-voltage training.

But the pantographs don't just make charging easier; they also allow intermediate charging at up to five terminus stops with a maximum of 300 kilowatts. This reduces the number of additional electric buses required from 15 to just six, which naturally lowers investment costs significantly. The outdated Rank garage, where around 130 buses for 14 routes have been stationed so far, is currently being dismantled before being rebuilt in a highly efficient manner to ultimately usher in a sustainable future. The new building will initially have parking on four floors for around 144 buses, each with their own pantograph. The vehicles will be charged by two redundant circuits – all beneath a solar roof and behind discreet green façades. Before the new building goes into operation in 2027, two temporary units will be upgraded to ensure smooth operation.

A total of 19 modern Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro buses form the basis of the electric fleet, including 8 long articulated buses. The three-door solo buses are fitted with high-performance NMC2 batteries with a reduced capacity of 330 kilowatt hours. This reduction in capacity is possible thanks to the roof-mounted pantographs and also has a positive effect on driving practices. These city buses are of extremely high quality and are equipped with all the latest safety systems. They can carry up to 77 passengers and their range is around 150 to 280 kilometres, depending on the weather and load. The 38 Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro G articulated buses delivered at the end of 2023 have four doors and NMC3 batteries with 495 kilowatt-hours. They boast a range of 140 to 260 kilometres with around 133 passengers on board. Furthermore, BVB processes all the available data that can be extracted from the buses' multiplex systems to optimise its utilisation in the Daimler Buses online telematics platform OMNIplus ON. With this concentrated mass of vehicular and digital power, nothing now stands in the way of the rapid transformation of public transport in Basel.