Applause, please, for the new all-electric Mercedes-Benz articulated bus eCitaro G. It is optionally equipped with innovative solid-state batteries. With this battery concept, Mercedes-Benz takes the technological lead not just in the bus segment but in automotive construction worldwide.

In general, vehicles with solid-state batteries as standard were not expected until the middle of this decade. Mercedes-Benz is faster: the new eCitaro G is the first series production city bus in its category anywhere in the world to be equipped with solid-state batteries. They have a very high energy density which is around 25 percent greater than the coming generation of traditional lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolyte. The result is an impressive energy content of 441 kWh for the new eCitaro G. This battery technology is also free of the chemical element cobalt and therefore especially environmentally friendly in the manufacture of the components.

The long life of the solid-state batteries is particularly striking. Therefore, when purchasing an eCitaro with solid-state batteries, a basic guarantee for the high-voltage battery for up to 10 years or up to 280 MWh energy throughput per battery pack is standard.

As solid-state batteries are restricted in their fast-charging capacity, Mercedes-Benz is offering a new generation of the previously used NMC batteries as an alternative. The composition is specially selected to make them suitable for high charging currents during high-power charging and, thanks to their energy density, to give the vehicle an extensive range.

The new generation of NMC batteries has a considerably greater capacity, meaning increased vehicle range. With a capacity of around 33 kWh instead of 24 kWh per battery assembly and the maximum number of assemblies fitted, the total capacity amounts to 396 kWh. In terms of geometry, the new prism-shaped NMC batteries are identical to the batteries currently in use and they have the same connections. This means that transport operators using the current eCitaro will actually be able to increase the range of their vehicles by changing to the new batteries.

Mercedes-Benz is continuing resolutely on its path towards the electrification of city buses: the new eCitaro G is the first all-electric articulated bus to bear the three-pointed star. The two new battery versions will also be used for the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro solo bus, which was launched in 2018 and has proved its worth many times.

The all-new Mercedes-Benz Intouro raises the bar for buses for inter-city and excursion transport to a whole new level. With pioneering optional assistance systems such as Active Brake Assist 5 the emergency braking assistance system and Sideguard Assist, it offers an unprecedented level of safety for buses. At the same time it is a model of efficiency and functionality.

Protecting the weakest road users such as pedestrians and cyclists is extremely important at Mercedes-Benz. Especially in scheduled bus operation, this topic is of particular importance. The Mercedes-Benz Intouro, the new overland bus, is the first bus to feature the unique emergency braking assistance system Active Brake Assist 5 – or ABA 5 – another milestone in the evolution of safety. As the first globally available emergency braking assistance system for buses, this optionally available assistance system can also effect an automated full-stop braking manoeuvre to avoid moving pedestrians. In addition, ABA 5, like its predecessor system ABA 4, can automatically execute a full-stop braking manoeuvre to bring the vehicle to a standstill to avoid a stationary or moving obstacle. 

Another optionally available item among the outstanding new safety equipment for the new Intouro is Sideguard Assist, the turning assistance system with pedestrian detection. It supports the driver primarily when making turns in built-up areas. Radar-based Sideguard Assist warns about moving objects such as pedestrians or cyclists and also stationary obstacles. With both assistance systems, the new Intouro provides an unprecedented level of safety for buses. With ESP, the electronic safety program, as standard, and with other safety equipment, it combines all safety technologies currently available for buses.

With its wide range of versions, the new Mercedes-Benz Intouro range covers a huge spectrum of requirements. This covers everything from the practical high-floor bus with luggage compartment to school buses and shuttle buses, as well as for moving employees round works sites and as a comfortable coach for day trips and weekend excursions. Optimised aerodynamics and a newly developed, lighter body shell ensure even greater fuel efficiency. Depending on vehicle operation, consumption is up to three per cent lower in the standard variant, and with optional equipment even greater reductions are possible.

Mannheim / Stuttgart, 19 June 2020 – Bülent Menekse, Managing Director of Omnibusverkehr Spillmann GmbH, has done it again: the Bietigheim-based bus entrepreneur has received four Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid vehicles and thus created real design highlights yet again. As has been the case for all of his motto buses, it was Menekse who had the basic ideas for the vehicles which were then realised in a close co-operation with Daimler Buses based on the Mercedes-Benz Citaro. Graffiti, music history, art and sport are the current subjects that Spillmann depicts in the interior of the Citaro city buses. The side walls, flooring and seats are decorated with emotional images – the flooring and seats also feature shapes and colours – and the whole look is refined with design elements typical of Spillmann such as metal grab bars or their own lighting concept.

The futuristic appearance of the exterior is characterised by a front and side-wall section in a different design. Passengers can make use of Wi-Fi, USB ports and a comprehensive range of infotainment features, for example. Each city bus is unique.

In buying the Mercedes‑Benz Citaro hybrid, Spillmann is again relying on the economic hybrid components and Sideguard Assist which assists drivers when turning right by warning them about stationary and mobile obstacles such as cyclists, electric scooters or pedestrians.

The fully-electric driven eCitaro G articulated bus increases the product range of the Citaro city bus family. It is another important step on the way to more environmentally friendly towns and cities offering a better quality of life. With the new fully-electric articulated bus, Mercedes-Benz is further expanding its role as a technological pioneer: shortly after its market launch, the new articulated bus will be available with new battery technologies. This includes being the first bus in its category to be equipped with innovative solid-state batteries. 

Transport operators have been waiting for this city bus: there are already definite orders for over 60 of the new eCitaro G from half a dozen towns and cities – and the number continues to grow. First deliveries to several transport operators are planned for this year. 

With this bus, Mercedes-Benz is consistently continuing the electrification of city buses. Two years ago Daimler Buses presented the eCitaro, a fully-electric driven solo regular service city bus. Today, the battery-electric eCitaro is already a series production vehicle manufactured at the Mannheim plant. There are now hundreds in regular operation in many European towns and cities. The eCitaro G now follows; the first fully-electric driven articulated bus bearing the three-pointed star which, depending on the version, can transport up to 146 passengers. 

"I am really very pleased that our Mercedes-Benz eCitaro has established itself very well since its market launch. This shows that we are on the right track, offering products that our society wants and that our customers can work with. With the eCitaro as an articulated bus variant, we are consistently continuing the electrification of city buses: the eCitaro G will be equipped with innovative solid state batteries on request. In doing so, we are setting the course for sustainable and efficient passenger transport in urban centers," says Till Oberwörder, Head of Daimler Buses. 

The articulated bus is ideal for operations in heavily-frequented towns and cities with large numbers of passengers and is an important factor for improving the quality of life in inner cities. The new eCitaro G combines the advantages of the well-proven Citaro G articulated bus with the extraordinary technology of the eCitaro and with revolutionary technologies for battery and electric drives.

The eCitaro G is being launched with the NMC variant of lithium-ion batteries that have proved their worth many times in the eCitaro solo bus. The next stage of evolution has already been defined. It is expected that Mercedes-Benz will increase the performance of the eCitaro G this year by switching to a new generation of NMC batteries. This will increase capacity considerably from 292 kWh to up to 396 kWh. The range of the articulated bus will be increased accordingly.

At the same time the eCitaro G is beginning a new chapter with innovative solid-state batteries to store energy. They will be optionally available as a second possible technology. Their huge bonus: solid-state batteries are characterised by high energy density and a particularly long service life. Chemically speaking these are lithium-polymer batteries. They are known as solid-state batteries because the usually liquid electrolyte is in solid form. Also raw materials such as cobalt, nickel and manganese are not used for this type of battery. Equipped with seven battery packs, the eCitaro G achieves a remarkable total capacity of 441 kWh and thus guarantees ranges typical of city bus operations.  

As the use of solid-state batteries is extremely restricted for fast and thus intermediate charging, the battery technology covers other usage profiles than lithium-ion batteries (NMC). They, on the other hand, are ideal for fast charging whether during breaks between journeys at the depot or along the route. That is why Mercedes-Benz is pursuing a two-fold strategy and is offering the eCitaro G with both battery technologies as an option. Thus the new eCitaro G is a custom-made articulated bus which flexibly adapts itself to the various operational strategies of transport companies.

17 April 2020 – Daimler Buses recently delivered 99 Mercedes-Benz city buses to the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport in the United Arab Emirates, which are now starting operations in Abu Dhabi to significantly expand and modernize the capital's efficient and well-integrated transport system.

The city buses are low-floor solo buses of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro type, which were manufactured at the Daimler Buses production site in Mannheim, Germany and are equipped with the Euro VI emissions standard. Additionally, the buses are maintained under a five-year full-service contract from Emirates Motor Company Commercial Vehicles (EMC CV), the Mercedes-Benz authorized distributor in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and member of the ALFAHIM Group family conglomerate.

After Daimler Buses successfully mastered the market entry in Abu Dhabi with 100 units of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro in 2009, this is now the second major order in the United Arab Emirates. The delivery underscores Daimler Buses' strategic growth goal of opening up new markets; thereby, further expanding its global market presence.

The transport operator, SWEG, based in Lahr in Germany's Black Forest region, will be taking the first Mercedes-Benz eCitaro REX (Range Extender) from series production and putting it on the road. SWEG and Daimler Buses signed the corresponding letter of intent today. Delivery will be over the course of 2022.

As promised further development of the fully-electric, locally emission-free eCitaro first presented in 2018 is progressing rapidly. This year, new generations of batteries are again increasing its range considerably. These include solid-state batteries – a pioneering achievement in automotive construction.

With this letter of intent, SWEG is now investing in the next level; the eCitaro with fuel cell as a range extender. While travelling it generates electrical energy from hydrogen. This further increases range so that ultimately the eCitaro can seamlessly replace conventionally driven city buses even when an extensive range is required.

"Our company has always been a pioneer in the field of new and sustainable forms of mobility," says the outgoing Chairman of the Board of Management at SWEG, Johannes Müller. "That is why we would also like to gain experience in the area of hydrogen technology in the field," says the future Chairman of the Board of Management at SWEG, Tobias Harms. Ulrich Bastert, Head of Marketing, Sales and Customer Services at Daimler Buses: "The eCitaro with fuel cell is a further milestone in the development of environmentally friendly city buses. We are delighted that our partner, SWEG, has opted for this advanced technology."

From 2022, SWEG expects to initially operate the two-door solo bus from the company's base in Lahr. At present the company is developing a concept for providing the city bus with hydrogen.

Since 2018, the all-electric eCitaro city bus with a battery pack has been assembled at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Mannheim. From 2022 onwards, a variant with fuel cell technology for generating on-board electric power from hydrogen is planned as a range extender. These buses with their alternative propulsion systems play a key role in Daimler’s transition toward CO₂-neutral passenger transport and bring things full circle. As on 12 March 1895, 125 years ago, automotive manufacturer Benz & Cie. ─ also in Mannheim ─ delivered the first bus with a combustion engine (an alternative drivetrain at the time) to Rheinische Gasmotoren Fabrik.

The first Benz combustion engine bus was used by Netphener Omnibus-Gesellschaft. The company ordered it from Benz & Cie. on 19 December 1894 and used the vehicle from 18 March 1895 on the Siegen-Netphen-Deuz route. On 29 March 1895, the company ordered a second bus, which Benz & Cie. delivered on 26 June 1895. Both buses were powered by a horizontal, single-cylinder engine in the rear with a standing flywheel and a displacement of 2.9 litres. The engine featured an automatic intake valve and controlled exhaust valve and was rated at 3.7 kW (5 hp). Cooling took the form of evaporative cooling, and a battery-powered high-voltage buzzer ignition was used for the ignition system.

A period description of the first bus with an internal combustion engine referenced a lattice roof for luggage, the “Siegen-Netphen-Deuz” lettering on the sides and numbered seats. The equipment configuration also included solid rubber spare tyres for the rear wheels and one front wheel. The second bus was similarly equipped but also has a signal bell. Other Benz combustion engine buses based on the Landauer were delivered to Vegesack (Schild & Cie.) and Nordenham (Johann Janssen). Additional customers came from Tyrol and Bitterfeld.

The premiere of the scheduled regular service of a bus with a combustion engine operated by Netphener Omnibus-Gesellschaft lasted only until the winter of 1895/96, at which point line service was stopped in part due to the high demands placed on vehicles by the slippery winter roads.

12 March 1895 nevertheless became a turning point in the history of passenger transport as it marked the start of a technical transformation in bus transport service, whereby people said goodbye to horse-drawn buses and steam-powered drives and hello to the combustion engine. Today, the bus industry is once again in the midst of a technical transformation ─ this time, however, electric power is the game changer.

The delivery of the first Benz combustion engine bus marks the beginning of the highly successful 125-year history of Mercedes-Benz buses and coaches with their numerous and varied highlights. Included among them are the Mercedes-Benz O 321 H, which was assembled from 1954 to 1964 and celebrated its 65th birthday in 2019.

Numerous exhibits at the Mercedes-Benz Museum also bear witness to this multifaceted development. An authentic reconstruction of the Benz combustion engine bus, for example, which was built using OEM parts, can be taken in by museum visitors in Legend Room 1: Pioneers ─ The Invention of the Automobile, 1886 to 1900. The two buses delivered to Netphener Omnibus-Gesellschaft have not been preserved. A Mercedes-Benz O 303 coach from 1979 is one of the exhibits on display in Legend Room 5: Visionaries ─ Safety and Environment, 1960 to 1982. This model series set the standard in vehicle safety for buses. Not only was the O 303 the first bus used to conduct systematic rollover tests, but it was also the first bus model worldwide to be equipped with an ABS anti-lock braking system.

The Mercedes-Benz Museum showcases six buses in Collection Room 1: Gallery of Voyagers. The line-up ranges from the British Milnes-Daimler double-decker bus from the early 20th century and the Mercedes-Benz O 2600 all-weather touring bus from the 1930s to the O 3500 all-weather touring bus from the 1950s and the brightly painted Brazilian LO 1112 from 1969. An O 305 standard regular-service bus from 1980 and a Mercedes-Benz Travego from the 2009+ generation round off the exhibition in this room.

Last but not least, the Mercedes-Benz O 10000 city and long-distance bus from the late 1930s, which was converted into a mobile post office in Austria, is on display in Collection Room 2 ─ Gallery of Voyagers, as is the Mercedes-Benz O 302 coach in Collection Room 4 ─ Gallery of Names. This vehicle corresponds in great detail to the team bus used by the German national football team during the 1974 Football World Cup held in Germany. It is one of only two vehicle exhibits at the museum in which visitors can take a seat!

Cities are becoming more environmentally friendly and enjoying a higher quality of life thanks to the all-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro. This is underscored by its latest accolade in the form of the environmental label "Blue Angel". For more than 40 years it has been the German government's environmental label and it is awarded by independent institutions. The coveted eco-label proves the eCitaro's environmental friendliness and the exemplary path it is taking towards locally emission-free local public transport. The eCitaro is the first fully-electric city bus entitled to bear this environmental label.

Jenaer Nahverkehr GmbH is the first transport operator to receive three eCitaro vehicles with the "Blue Angel". The company operates local public transport in the Thuringian university city, with a fleet including 43 city buses on 13 routes. The three eCitaro models form the foundation for the first electric bus fleet in Thuringia. They are also equipped with current collectors for intermediate charging via plugs. The order also encompasses charging infrastructure, including a current collector charging station at the depot and at the "Westbahnhof" railway station. The safety equipment of the buses is also impressive and includes Sideguard Assist.

The "Blue Angel" eco-label for the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro is further proof of the successful commitment to sustainable public transport in cities and conurbations. This battery-powered city bus thus stands for environmentally-respectful local public transport, contributing to air purity and therefore to enhancing the quality of life in cities.

There are high hurdles to be taken before the environmental label "Blue Angel" can be awarded. For example, all-electric buses have to demonstrate a minimum capacity for their high-voltage batteries. Further prerequisites include a guarantee of at least five years or mileage of 200,000 kilometres on the batteries, the opportunity to return them at a later date, non-destructive battery change and the availability of replacement components for up to ten years after production has ended. In addition to this, the proportion of heavy metals in batteries is strictly limited.

The requirements also cover the overall vehicle's environmental criteria. In paints and coatings, for instance, no lead, chromium oxide or cadmium compounds are permitted. As of the start of this year, only natural refrigerants are permitted for air conditioning systems. The eCitaro meets this criterion with its CO₂ air conditioning system. It goes without saying that the fully-electric eCitaro adheres to tight threshold values for driving noise.