While smaller players are struggling to remain competitive in the EV bus space, Mercedes-Benz is targeting more clients and more volumes.
Mercedes-Benz has handed over one eCitaro G electric articulated bus with solid-state batteries each to Hamburger Hochbahn and Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein. The two new electric articulated buses each have seven battery packs with solid electrolyte and an energy content of 441 kWh, allowing up to 200km range, depending on operational conditions.
The vehicles will be charged at the depot. 18 meters long, the buses will carry 100 passengers on the Hamburg roads. In the coming months, Mercedes will supply another 60 plus buses to the two transportation companies in Hamburg. Both companies have been ordering EV buses only since 2020.
PSR Analysis: Battery electric, (solid, or other types of batteries), present the most positive outlook in Europe according to CV link™, our commercial vehicle and buses production database. While Internal combustion buses will decrease at a -1% CAGR in the next five years, their Battery alternative will grow at a 19% CAGR.
Source: PSR CV Link™
We think Mercedes-Benz will outperform the market by a wide margin, with a staggering 38% growth, positioning it as the fastest growing manufacturer between 2021 and 2026. While this is undoubtedly impressive, it must be said that Mercedes-Benz is currently trailing in the race for EV Buses supremacy in Europe. In fact, even with its strong forecast, it won’t be able, according to our analysis, to close the gap with the market leaders in the next five years. PSR
Emiliano Marzoli is Manager-European Operations for Power Systems Research
