Esslingen to receive 46 trolleybuses from Skoda

Skoda will deliver a total of 46 trolleybuses to Esslingen, Germany. The local transport company – Städtischer Verkehrsbetrieb Esslingen am Neckar – has selected the Czech company as the winner of a tender to supply trolleybuses with a length of 12 metres and 18 metres for the further development of its trolleybus service. The order also includes an option to supply a further fifteen trolleybuses. The vehicles will be built on a platform with the type designation Škoda 32Tr and 33Tr.

Esslingen is extending its 29-kilometre trolleybus network with an additional five kilometres of track.

Skoda to deliver trolleybuses in Esslingen

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), the manufacturer states. 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.

As with other customers, the trolleybuses for Esslingen will be configured directly to the requirements of the Esslingen transport operator. Skoda explains that 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 Škoda asynchronous motors, while the articulated trolleybuses will be in a twin-motor design with two driven axles (middle and rear axle). The vehicles will also feature advanced diagnostics, including remote service access for the technical and maintenance team.

“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.”