"The future belongs to electric buses," says Erhard Kiesel, Managing Director of the medium-sized bus company Schlienz-Tours. For the bus operator, the question of moving over to electromobility was not a question of if, but when. The company has been supported in this process right from the start by the electromobility experts from Daimler Buses.

The main contact for Schlienz-Tours is Elias Mex. The project manager at Daimler Buses is responsible for overall planning and coordinates all project steps between the customer, suppliers and partners. "The switch from diesel to electric buses does not just mean changing the drive type. It is a move to a new system, and the processes in bus operations have to be rethought," emphasises Mex.

The switch from diesel to electric buses is a huge challenge, especially for a medium-sized bus company. "Electromobility is a new technology for which we first had to develop know-how in the company," explains Erhard Kiesel. The bus operator admits that the issue was therefore approached with a great deal of respect.

At Schlienz-Tours, the contact person for the electromobility project is Axel Disson. The Senior Manager of Public Transport at Schlienz-Tours says that a special requirement is that the eMobility ecosystem can be continuously developed and expanded as required. Disson: "Our eMobility ecosystem ensures an effective start into electromobility from day one – and also ensures the necessary flexibility and scalability for the future."

The Daimler Buses service package includes the preparation of a feasibility study, support for the necessary construction measures and clarification of all questions relating to the energy supply and charging infrastructure. The service package also includes electrical installation, provision of the charging management software and, of course, delivery of the electric buses. The digital services of OMNIplus ON also play an important role. "Each of these steps is about finding an individual solution for Schlienz-Tours and answers to the challenges on site," emphasises Mex.

At Schlienz-Tours, one of these challenges, for example, is the demanding topography in the region around Stuttgart, where the electric buses are used in scheduled services. The eBuses have to cope with steep inclines around the Neckar and Remstal valleys as well as on the Filderhöhe plain and the hills of the Schurwald region.

Schlienz-Tours has initially opted for two eCitaro G articulated buses and one eCitaro solo bus to be used on the routes. Based on the routes and performance data, the experts have examined the possible applications of the vehicles. The analyses show that all routes are feasible thanks to the powerful latest-generation NMC3 batteries.

Although no route adjustments are necessary because the eCitaro buses have the necessary range, there are still a lot changes at the depot as a result of the switch to electromobility. The principle here is the same: the experts at Daimler Buses do not offer an off-the-shelf solution, but a tailor-made concept.

The Schlienz-Tours depot is located in an industrial area. An adequate power supply is guaranteed here in the long term by the energy supplier. The bus company acquired a neighbouring property some time ago. This means that the company can remain in its current location even in the event of expansion, for example, if additional buses are required to serve other routes.

Everything at the depot is designed so that the expansion of electromobility can be done gradually. The modularity of the Daimler Buses concept makes this possible. Erhard Kiesel says: "We can easily expand after the transition without the need for any more excavation work."

The collection and use of data plays a major role in day-to-day operations of the eCitaro. For example, charging management software is used that ensures efficient and economical charging of electric buses – this is also included in the Daimler Buses service package. The vehicle data and charging management information are integrated into a central system and connected to consumption analyses and the location service via OMNIplus ON.

The experts ensure that the harmonisation of different systems, such as scheduling, workshop and depot management, is guaranteed. Here is another advantage of the turnkey solution: ensuring interface compatibility with different systems.

In view of this modular complete solution from a single source, it is no wonder that Erhard Kiesel cites the transfer of know-how as well as the reduction in the organisational effort and workload for the employees in his bus company as the key advantages of the partnership with Mercedes-Benz. For a medium-sized bus company, this makes it possible to achieve a perfect entry into electromobility.

And Schlienz-Tours naturally does not plan to stop there. With the first three eCitaro buses, the company will gain experience in operating electric buses in close collaboration with the experts from Daimler Buses.

This is because the cooperation does not end with the commissioning of the electric buses. Elias Mex and his colleagues will be there to support everyday deployment of the eCitaro with their know-how and experience in eMobility, so that operations can be continuously improved.

With the experience gained in this way, Schlienz-Tours plans to use the modular expansion options to increase the number of buses from three to 15 electric buses and also increase the number of charging points from six to 15. Because as bus operator Erhard Kiesel says: "The electric bus is the future."