The life cycle of a drive battery does not necessarily end after having been used in a vehicle. The GUW+ pilot project at Üstra Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe AG, to which Daimler Buses is a partner, demonstrates this. In this project, which was announced in 2021, battery systems from Mercedes-Benz eCitaro city buses are given a second life as stationary energy storage units. This innovative energy storage solution was developed and implemented by Mercedes-Benz Energy GmbH. The storage system at Üstra’s rectifier substation, which has now been put into operation in Hanover, provides a shared, simultaneous energy supply for the public transport operator’s eCitaro electric buses and light rail.
The stationary storage solution of this pilot project is not only regenerative and configurable, it can also be adapted as necessary for other applications and scaled accordingly. Further added value: Finding a second life for these batteries as stationary energy storage units reduces the life-cycle costs of the eCitaro. At the same time, using Üstra’s existing infrastructure, consisting of buildings, grid connection, and power electronics, has a positive effect on investment costs and allows for additional amortization options.