Turnkey in record time - the new depot for e-buses from MOIN Lüneburg
From open space to turnkey solution in just seven months
The objective was as clear as it was ambitious: MOIN, the new municipal mobility service provider for the city and district of Lüneburg, needed a completely new bus depot including a charging park - and this within a very tight time frame. As a general contractor, Daimler Buses has accepted the challenge. When operating the power supply equipment, the Mercedes-Benz CHARGE service technicians take care of maintenance and service.
Satisfied project partners (from left to right): Alex Meier (Depot Manager MOIN), Nicolai Struve (Project Manager Daimler Buses Solutions), Alwin Wais (Service Technician Daimler Buses Solutions), Nikolas Wenzel (Managing Director MOIN)
Clear specifications, tight schedule
“Our most important requirement was by far the schedule,” recalls Nikolas Wenzel, Managing Director of MOIN. "We didn't even have a building application yet. And we had six months." During this time, a social building, a workshop, a car wash and sufficient parking spaces for buses and cars were to be built on the 13,000 m² site alongside the power supply equipment. "Major projects of this kind usually take years. Daimler Buses Solutions realised our depot on time for the start of operations in just six months," comments MOIN depot manager Alex Meier. “That’s why we knew we needed a partner for everything,” adds Nikolas Wenzel.
Therefore, a general contractor was specifically sought to reliably coordinate planning, construction and technical implementation. Daimler Buses impressed with its most economical offer - and a project approach that relied on parallel processes. “We started planning while we were still waiting for the building permit,” explains project manager Nicolai Struve.
Power supply equipment: from analysis to a sustainable charging concept
The project started with the feasibility analysis. “We are checking whether and how the planned blocks can be electrified,” says the 35-year-old. A special simulation model for eBuses is used here, which calculates the energy requirements of all existing lines and routes. The information obtained flows into the depot analysis, which is used to determine the required amount of energy and connected load. Alex Meier, head of the MOIN depot, confirms that this involves not only theory but also practical project experience: “Daimler Buses has a great deal of experience with other municipal operations - and you have noticed that this experience has been integrated into this project.”
On this basis, Daimler Buses Solutions finally presented a viable concept for the entire power supply equipment. Ten charging points should be created in the first step - ten more will follow later. The energy is supplied by five power units, each with 360 kW performance. The hardware is orchestrated by the SINOS charging and load management system. “The software plans and controls charging processes as efficiently as possible and ensures that the vehicles can always leave on time and preconditioned,” Nicolai Struve summarises the benefits.
When it came to electrification, Nicolai Struve was able to rely on support from his own lines. With Alwin Wais, a competent service technician was available throughout the project. This company not only played a central role in the planning, but was also responsible for connecting the power supply equipment. He will also accompany MOIN in the dealership - as a service technician for maintenance and repair work at Mercedes me CHARGE.
A real milestone: in November 2025, the charging infrastructure was connected to the power supply equipment.
Parallel collaboration as a success factor
In addition to the charging infrastructure, the measures for construction and civil engineering were also planned together with a partner architectural firm. Parallel work also proved successful during the construction phase. For example, construction and civil engineering companies were often able to be active at the same time. An important factor, as Nicolai Struve says: "You can see here many trades that work together every day. This is crucial for the success of the project."
Find out more about the building blocks for eMobility ecosystems!
“Constructing a depot within a few months is exactly what the industry needs,” says Nikolas Wenzel, Managing Director of MOIN. And that’s exactly what was achieved together in Lüneburg. Within a very short period of time, a state-of-the-art depot with power supply equipment, workshops and social rooms was built, providing the fundamentals for future-proof electric driving. A real role model for municipalities all over Germany that also want to take the step towards electric urban mobility.
