Škoda Group, a leading European manufacturer of zero-emission mobility solutions, today, together with representatives of the City of Esslingen am Neckar in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg and the public transport operator Städtischer Verkehrsbetrieb Esslingen am Neckar (SVE), presented the first two new battery trolleybuses intended for operation in the city. The delivery of these first two vehicles marks the start of a contract for the supply of 52 modern trolleybuses, which will play a key role in Esslingen’s project to transition its entire public transport network to fully electric, zero-emission operation by the end of this year. The contract also includes an option for the delivery of nine additional trolleybuses.
The contract comprises ten 12-metre Škoda 32Tr trolleybuses and 42 18-metre articulated Škoda 33Tr trolleybuses. The new vehicles combine operation under overhead lines with battery-powered driving away from the overhead contact network, with a range of up to 25 kilometres. This will enable the city to develop clean electric transport also on sections where overhead line infrastructure has not been built. Deliveries of the vehicles will take place gradually until the end of 2026.
“The presentation of the first trolleybuses for Esslingen is an important milestone for us and confirmation that the project is progressing according to plan. We are proud to be a partner to the City of Esslingen in implementing one of the most advanced concepts for zero-emission urban transport in Germany. The new battery trolleybuses combine proven electric traction technology with the flexibility of operation away from overhead lines and will offer passengers modern, reliable and comfortable transport,” says Karel Majer, Chairman of the Board of Škoda Electric at Škoda Group.
“Esslingen is a highly significant project for us. It is not just about delivering modern vehicles; it is about partnering with a city that has committed to transforming its entire public transport system into a zero-emission operation. We are proud that Škoda Group can play a part in this transformation. At the same time, this project reinforces our strong position in the German market and demonstrates that our electric mobility solutions effectively meet the needs of cities striving for sustainable transport,” says Jan Harder, President Region West at Škoda Group.
An Important Step Towards Zero-Emission Urban Transport
Esslingen is one of the cities that has long been developing electric public transport and is now moving towards a complete transition to zero-emission operation. The “100% Electromobility in Public Transport” project aims to ensure that urban transport in Esslingen is fully electric by the end of 2026. The new trolleybuses from Škoda Group will be key to achieving this goal.
“With the new battery trolleybuses, we are investing in modern, high-performance and climate-friendly public transport. Esslingen is thus demonstrating that sustainable mobility can be successfully combined with an attractive transport offer for passengers,” says Matthias Klopfer, Mayor of the City of Esslingen am Neckar.
The project also builds on the long-term development of trolleybus transport in Esslingen, where the city is expanding its approximately 29-kilometre trolleybus network with additional sections and creating the conditions for electric operation on all urban public transport routes. Thanks to the use of electric traction and green electricity supplied by the municipal energy company Stadtwerke Esslingen, local public transport is intended to be not only emission-free at the point of operation, but also climate-friendly in terms of the energy used.
Modern Vehicles Designed to Meet Esslingen’s Needs
The trolleybuses for SVE are designed to meet the specific requirements of the transport operator and urban operation in Esslingen. Passengers will benefit from barrier-free boarding, a high standard of comfort, modern passenger information systems and Wi-Fi connectivity. The 12-metre Škoda 32Tr vehicles will be delivered in a two-door configuration, while the 18-metre articulated Škoda 33Tr vehicles will be delivered in a three-door configuration.
The equipment will also include more comfortable passenger seats of a type more commonly used in intercity transport, an electric ramp for passengers with prams or wheelchairs, and modern diagnostics, including the possibility of remote service access. The vehicles are also equipped with energy recuperation technology, which returns part of the braking energy to the batteries during braking, for example when travelling downhill, thereby contributing to higher energy efficiency in operation.
Thanks to traction batteries, the vehicles can operate not only under overhead lines, but also autonomously away from them, covering up to 25 kilometres without recharging. This concept enables flexible deployment of the vehicles during service interruptions, diversions and on routes or sections without overhead lines. The articulated trolleybuses are also equipped with a dual-motor drive with two driven axles, contributing to higher performance and reliable operation even in more demanding terrain.
The delivery also includes comprehensive service support, which will ensure the long-term operational reliability of the vehicles and support the operator in deploying them in regular service.
Škoda Trolleybuses Return to the German Trolleybus Market
The Esslingen project also has symbolic significance for Škoda Group. It builds on the historic tradition of Škoda trolleybus deliveries to Germany, specifically to the former GDR, where the company delivered a total of 205 trolleybuses between 1955 and 1987. The new generation of battery trolleybuses thus represents Škoda’s return to the German market in the electric road transport segment.
Škoda Group is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of vehicles for zero-emission urban transport. In the field of trolleybuses, it builds on 90 years of tradition in the development and production of these vehicles in Plzeň and western Bohemia. In recent months, the company has announced or concluded new trolleybus contracts for, among others, Tallinn, Sofia, Jihlava, Hradec Králové, Ostrava, Ústí nad Labem, Chomutov and Jirkov, and Banská Bystrica. These projects confirm the growing interest among cities in modern battery and in-motion charging trolleybuses, which combine the benefits of electric traction with the operational flexibility of driving away from overhead lines.
