“Okay,” he muttered, stubbing it out. “That’s witchcraft.”

As he shut down Wagen 1427 , the main display flashed: Energy recovered today: 47 kWh. CO2 saved: 89 kg.

He pulled the joystick-style selector. With a whisper, the 24-ton bus glided out of the depot. Inside, it was cathedral-quiet. The only sound was the pneumatic hiss of the kneeling function as he approached Rathaus Spandau.