Daimler delivers solid-state battery buses

Wiesbaden’s public transport operator, ESWE is building electric momentum as the first Daimler buses with solid-state batteries arrive. Now ESWE Verkehrsgesellschaft added corresponding charging infrastructure.

So far, the company put 21 new battery buses and 56 stationary charging columns into operation at the bus yard in Gartenfeldstraße. In use are 21 Mercedes-Benz eCitaro with solid-state battery, which complement the last ten battery buses.

The infrastructure initiative succeeds an order from 2019 when ESWE bought 56 eCitaro buses. ESWE expects Daimler to fulfil the entire order by the end of this quarter. Each of the 56 vehicles will then have a place to charge in the depot.

Interestingly, while the first eCitaro models for Wiesbaden were still equipped with lithium-ion batteries, the remaining 41 eCitaro models feature brand-new solid-state batteries. These batteries have a capacity of up to 441 kWh and should enable a range of 200 kilometres even in winter.

Daimler had announced at the presentation of the eCitaro series in July 2018 that it would be offering the electric city bus with solid-state batteries from 2020. Hats off, as they succeed in doing so.

The original report concluded that Mercedes-Benz was to take on the conversion of the depot. In the end, it was Heliox from the Netherlands, that installed the 56 charging stations and the medium-voltage grid connection. According to the contract, the Dutch company will also provide service and maintenance for the systems.

By the end of 2021, ESWE will have a total of 120 battery-electric buses of this type in service and will have installed the same number of charging points in the depot.

As for Mercedes-Benz, it looks like they mean it when it takes to solid-state technology. The company began cooperating with Canada’s Hydro-Québec almost exactly a year ago. They aim to test new materials under field conditions in France and Canada. Back then, Jochen Hermann, Vice President Development eDrive at Mercedes-Benz AG, called the developments “very promising.” He added that the battery is a key component of electric vehicles; mastering its chemistry is a vital issue for Mercedes-Benz research and development.

eswe-verkehr.de (PI ESWE, in German)

20 Comments

about „Daimler delivers solid-state battery buses“

Jorge Fernandez

03.02.2021 um 21:04

It is wonderful that these buses are now being integrated into cities. It will help with pollution and noise as well as test the technologies and improve on them. Very Nice job.

Becky Weaver

03.02.2021 um 21:06

I sincerely doubt that they have solved the solid-state battery problem. Most companies working on the solid-state battery predict it will not be available for several years. Even the most intelligent visionary of our time, Elon musk, does not believe it is a viable solution at this present time in February 2021.

Ken G

01.06.2021 um 14:12

This trial in Weisbaden is a substantial step forward and will provide invaluable data for the next series of batteries used in motor vehicles and personal devices. Without this sought of commitment will the reliance on current battery technology be resolved with their problems. My hat off to those concerned with the trials. Elon Musk? I can say no more.

09.02.2021 um 11:43

Hi, remember that the requirements for a commercially operated fleet are VERY different to those of something that is sold to the general public for use in their cars.

geemy

07.02.2021 um 17:38

You doubt they have solved the problem because Elon does not believe in it, yet they have 21 buses on the road. Are you a flat earther? I mean I'm sure his belief about solid state batteries are based on real issues. Also tesla doesn't care about super low production vehicles, and it's very understandable they would have problem or it would even be completely impossible to supply enough batteries and at low enough to be integrated in any of their models, but that's another question. It's good to see advances in solid state although tesla doesn't SEEM to be very involved in it. toyota announcing prototype by 2021 and production by 2025 is a big step forward because toyota is the biggest manufacturer in the world and had no real public strategy before. I beg Tesla is following all this solid state développement very closely, and for sure they must have some kind of long term strategy that has to integrate solid state batteries. bit in typical musk fashion he will just say they dismissed it because it's inferior, like HUD, two gear transmissions, or powerful regen operated by the braking pedal and blending with mechanical brakes. It's ok because it's his style and he runs his company as he wants, as long as he's not betraying the confidence that people put in tesla stock. But it's still always good to keep some critical thinking about what he tweets

Danny

03.02.2021 um 23:08

Daimler buses using solid state batteries is a real innovation that should really lead to a breakthrough in everything that uses battery power. My hope is for this innovation by daimler to be spread to cars and cellphones and ultimately airplanes.

Ted Gibbons

04.02.2021 um 04:25

The question is: do the solid state batteries in those Daimler buses have an energy density of at least twice that of the current batteries within Tesla automobiles? Are charging times of the Dailer solid state batteries at least half the time of the Tesla batteries. If the answer to both questions is no, then there is no news here, only Daimler virtue signaling.

geemy

07.02.2021 um 17:51

Daimler press release only talks about 25% increased energy density, and warranty of 10 years/280MWh per battery (they have 7) so this is about 4500cycles, or around a million miles considering the range which is over 200miles. Which is pretty impressive, except 25% increase doesn't tell the actual number. but. fast charging was maybe not the most crucial factor here, but it is widely accepted that solid state battery will allow eventually faster charging.

Richard Berling

04.02.2021 um 20:41

And longevity.

Juanma

04.02.2021 um 18:00

Looks like they use the bollore LMP (solid state) batteries which require quite high temperatures to operate https://www.blue-solutions.com/en/blue-solutions/technology/batteries-lmp/

Jose

06.02.2021 um 06:29

Why is there no information on the actual batteries? How could you mass produce a battery technology that is the holy grail of battery technologies that everyone has been chasing for decades and you don't even acknowledge the huge accomplishment nor provide any details. Then there is the fact that this news is just as scarce anywhere you check and has not really been reported anywhere else.

vic

07.02.2021 um 11:26

200km for a whole day riding bus? I guess it's far not enough - especially with slow charging technology. inductive charging system at stops and maybe builded in the road could help.Toyota's hydrogen-electric truck making 600km with one fast fueling.all technologies need lots of development yet

Pragmatist

07.02.2021 um 22:06

Solid state or not, this is a very inefficient vehicle. Sure, buses have a very inefficient duty cycle but this is terrible by all standards. More than 2kWh per km is bad, even adjusting for gross weight (full of passengers), heavy air con use, and stop-start duty cycle. If these are true solid state then this is not a good case study for them. One would hope the cycle life makes up for it.

09.02.2021 um 14:16

Not so. If the charging time is OK for their case use...well its OK, and it can be assumed that Daimler realistically expects to improve it in the near future. Why is *half* your minimum metric? Logic please, not hyperbole. Good day.

AJN

09.02.2021 um 14:22

How did you adjust? - ie what factor did you use? I suspect perhaps that you are comparing this bus to your Model 3 (?) Note the difference between a given energy use rate, and that same rate per passenger km. Good day to you.

CS Muralidhar

10.02.2021 um 02:23

I fully agree with your analysis of Elon Musk's comments on solid state battery development. He is not just an innovator, but a sharp business man too! And now he is even more mindful of his stock's fortunes as he embarks on 'mission of the mankind' kind of projects which at one time only governments of most affluent nations could think! Afterall, even a Columbus or Vasco Da Gama needed government support to conduct their dreams of exploring the "unknown oceans" of their times!

Danny

13.02.2021 um 05:53

If diamler already produced a bus that uses solid state batteries, will they please start making solid state batteries for other thing such as flashlights, laptops and cell phones.

lion

15.02.2021 um 09:13

This is Bolloré Blue Solution French soldi state batteries (Lithium metal polymer) Which has been on the road since 2012 in BueCar in Paris en BlueBUS. Only Drawback: it has to be kept above 60°C all the time to operate (and charge is slow ~4h max rate). Energy density of latest iteration is ~140Wh/kg pack level.

Danny

16.02.2021 um 02:19

If this article regarding Daimler Mercedes Benz solid state batteries is true, then they can potentially be a world supplier to all motor vehicles and eventually to other battery powered products such as laptops and cellphones

Nora Manthey

03.03.2021 um 16:20

Perhaps this will shine a spotlight on solid-state supply: https://www.electrive.com/2021/03/03/actually-we-are-the-pioneer-of-solid-state-battery/