The right length for every requirement: In addition to the Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro and eCitaro G, a short version of the fully electric low‑floor bus – the 10.63 metre Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro K – is now also available. The eCitaro modular system forms the common basis. This system of uniform components and design features guarantees the highest level of reliability and availability, as well as a host of other benefits.
Omnibus Magazine
eCitaro modular system: Four areas of application at a glance.
From short to long from a single cast – the advantages of the modular principle.
eCitaro modular system: Four areas of application at a glance.
The eCitaro K adopts many design features and components from the eCitaro and eCitaro G – benefiting customers, drivers and passengers alike.
The eCitaro modular system forms the basis for the development of all three length variants. Such a comprehensive design philosophy with many identical parts and design features offers huge advantages – not only in development. Customers benefit above all because the modular system ensures uniform operation, ride comfort and safety across the entire model series. At the same time, a vast number of parts used in the eCitaro, eCitaro G and eCitaro K are identical, ensuring that spare parts can be obtained fast in the event of damage and that the bus is soon ready for operation again.
Areas of application of the modular principle in the eCitaro:
#1: Vehicle body.
The modular system concept of using as many uniform components as possible across all length variants can be seen most clearly in the body. The short eCitaro K has the same overhang to the millimetre as the 12-metre eCitaro and the 18-metre eCitaro G – both at the front and rear. This means that these vehicles have lots of parts in common – such as LED headlamps, the windscreen, the side windows and the rear lights. In particular, the modular system creates uniform installation spaces for high‑voltage batteries, drive components and auxiliary units. For example, all three models use the same NMC4 battery packs with 111 kWh each. The eCitaro and eCitaro K are available with four to six battery packs with a maximum total of 666 kWh, while the eCitaro G is available with four to seven battery packs with a maximum total of 777 kWh.
“The Citaro modular system has made the development of the eCitaro K far easier and faster. We were able to use many tried‑and‑tested assemblies right from the start.”
#2: Drive system.
The modular system ensures that there are no differences in the drive system between the eCitaro, eCitaro G and eCitaro K. All three use the same electric drive axle with two electric motors close to the wheels and a peak output of up to 440 kW. The modular system can do even more here: In the eCitaro G, the electric axle can be installed in the rear section and a driven centre axle can also be installed without a lot of technical work being required, giving the articulated bus twice as much drive power when it's required.
#3: Driver's workstation.
With the eCitaro, eCitaro G and eCitaro K, both passengers and drivers alike experience exactly the same vehicle. The cockpit and operating concept of the city bus in all three models reflect the familiar Citaro with combustion engine and allow a quick change of driver. The benefits here are well‑known: generous stowage space and stowage options, ergonomic arrangement of the controls, good all‑round visibility as well as clearly arranged instruments with speedometer, power meter and information on the charge level of the batteries.
“But the biggest plus point for customers is the modular system. Because no matter which Citaro or eCitaro they have in their fleet, many of the components and spare parts are identical and can therefore be obtained quickly if any get damaged.”
#4: Safety and assistant systems.
It's not just the high levels of safety that make the eCitaro so successful – the modular concept is also a huge benefit. Because all three eCitaro models have the same high safety standard: from the tried‑and‑tested safety of the high‑voltage components to the exemplary equipment with safety and assistance systems, some of which go above and beyond the requirements of the European General Safety Regulation (GSR). The standard equipment includes Sideguard Assist 2, which now also monitors the driver’s side, Frontguard Assist for the area in front of the bus, and Traffic Sign Assist. The eCitaro, eCitaro G and eCitaro K can also be equipped with MirrorCam and a 360‑degree camera (eCitaro G: 270 degrees) for better visibility and safety.
