“We are very pleased that Škoda Group has been selected for this important contract. We look forward to close cooperation with the city of Esslingen and believe that our new trolleybuses will contribute to achieving the goal of 100% emission-free urban transport. Together, we will continue to innovate and develop environmentally friendly mobility,” said Karel Majer, Chairman of the Board of Škoda Electric at Škoda Group, on the delivery of the trolleybuses to Esslingen.
The Mayor of Esslingen, Matthias Klopfer, adds: “Once the new trolleybuses from Škoda Group are delivered, Esslingen will become one of the first cities in Germany with emission-free local transport. In terms of environmentally friendly mobility, this makes us an absolute pioneer throughout Germany. At the same time, our municipal transport company is making a significant contribution to ensuring that we as a city achieve climate neutrality by 2040.”
The 46 trolleybuses will be delivered by the end of 2026, with a total order volume of EUR 41,424,600 (excluding the option for 15 trolleybuses). All trolleybuses will be equipped with batteries that enable autonomous operation without a catenary for distances of up to 25 km. The trolleybuses are also equipped with recovery technology, whereby the batteries are recharged with braking energy, for example during downhill driving. The trolleybuses are also fully serviced by Škoda.
Enhanced passenger comfort and customised configurations
As with other customers, the trolleybuses for Esslingen will be configured directly to the requirements of the Esslingen transport operator. The modifications made will further increase passenger comfort and offer some features more typical of intercity services. The shorter Škoda 32Tr trolleybuses will be two-door designs and the articulated Škoda 33Tr trolleybuses will be three-door designs. All vehicles will get more comfortable seats for passengers in a design more usual for intercity traffic. In addition, the trolleybuses will be equipped with an electric ramp for boarding passengers with prams or wheelchairs and will feature modern information systems and internet connectivity via an on-board Wi-Fi network.
The trolleybuses will be powered by emission-free and efficient Škoda asynchronous motors, while the articulated trolleybuses will be in a twin-motor design with two driven axles (middle and rear axle). This will ensure better dynamic parameters and easier driving in hilly terrain, or when the roads are less passable during adverse winter weather. The vehicles will also feature advanced diagnostics, including remote service access for the technical and maintenance team.
Germany as a key market for emission-free mobility from Škoda Group
Esslingen is extending its 29-kilometre trolleybus network with an additional five kilometres of track and will become one of the first cities in Germany with emission-free urban transport. Thanks to the extensive network of routes with trolley lines, all of the transport company’s lines will be able to be operated exclusively by trolleybuses powered by green electricity from the municipal energy company Stadtwerke Esslingen (SWE). This will make local public transport in Esslingen completely emission-free and CO2-neutral.
Škoda Group is a major supplier of advanced emission-free solutions for urban and intercity mobility in Germany. For example, it recently introduced the world’s longest tram – the Škoda ForCity Smart 38T for the German transport company Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (rnv), which provides public transport in Mannheim, Heidelberg and Ludwigshafen. The trams will operate on local urban and intercity routes. A total of 114 vehicles in three sizes will be delivered. At the same time, Škoda Group is also the largest supplier of trams to Germany for 1000 mm gauge operations.
