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Eberspächer is supplying its AC135-230 roof-mounted air-conditioning systems for 52 new battery trolleybuses manufactured by Škoda Group for Städtischer Verkehrsbetrieb Esslingen (SVE), the municipal transport operator in Esslingen, Germany.
The vehicles form part of the city's 100% Electric Mobility in Public Transport initiative, which aims to achieve a locally emission-free public transport fleet by the end of 2026.
The new fleet includes 12-meter standard buses and 18-meter articulated vehicles.
The buses combine overhead-line power supply with onboard battery storage. While operating under trolleybus infrastructure, they draw electricity directly from overhead lines. Their batteries also allow them to travel up to 25 kilometers without external power supply.
This configuration enables electric operation beyond the existing overhead-line network.
The vehicles are equipped with Eberspächer's AC135-230 rooftop air-conditioning system, designed for installations where available roof space is limited.
In trolleybuses, electrical equipment and other technical components compete for rooftop installation space, making compact HVAC integration particularly important.
The AC135-230 offers:
The system provides passenger compartment heating and cooling while accommodating the vehicle's technical architecture.
The first two battery trolleybuses were officially presented in July 2026.
According to Eberspächer's September announcement, Škoda Group had subsequently delivered twelve vehicles to SVE for testing, with the first buses scheduled to enter regular passenger service in mid-October.
Esslingen is one of three German municipalities with an existing trolleybus overhead-line network, providing infrastructure for the transition toward locally emission-free public transport.
The project illustrates how compact HVAC solutions can be integrated into electric bus platforms where rooftop space must be shared with propulsion and electrical systems.
