In September the eCitaro celebrated its prominent world premiere at the IAA and now its already bringing a breath of fresh air to Hamburg: today, Mercedes‑Benz delivered the first series production model of an urban bus with a fully-electric drive system to the public transport company Hochbahn AG in Hamburg. It is part of an order for 20 eCitaro buses.

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News 2018
A breath of fresh air in Hamburg: Mercedes-Benz supplies the first fully electrical urban bus, the eCitaro to Hamburger Hochbahn AG.
Till Oberwörder: "The Mercedes Benz eCitaro is advancing electromobility".
Till Oberwörder, Head of Daimler Buses, handed over the first Mercedes-Benz eCitaro to Henrik Falk the Chairman of the Board at Hamburger Hochbahn AG in the presence of Dr. Peter Tschentscher, Mayor of Hamburg.
Till Oberwörder: "Hamburger Hochbahn AG is one of the recognised pioneers for alternative drive systems in local public transport. In producing the new eCitaro, we have developed a well-thought-out and sophisticated urban bus concept which will make a decisive contribution towards promoting electromobility in towns and cities. We are delighted to be able to deliver the very first series production vehicle today."
The largest single order for electric buses from a German transport provider.
The eCitaro for Hamburger Hochbahn AG is the first of a large order for 20 eCitaro buses - the biggest ever single order for buses driven by a fully-electric drive system from a German transport provider. Prior to this the Hamburger Hochbahn AG looked at several different concepts for urban buses with electric drive systems over a number of years. Starting in 2020 Hamburger Hochbahn AG intends to purchase nothing but emission-free buses. It operates around 1000 buses on 111 lines.
Stuttgart / Hamburg, 15 November 2018
- Till Oberwörder: "Hamburger Hochbahn AG is one of the recognised pioneers for alternative drive systems in local public transport. We are delighted to be able to deliver the very first series production vehicle today."
- The largest single order for electric buses from a German transport provider
- A customised urban bus for the local public transport of the future
A customised urban bus for the local public transport of the future.
The Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro is the first fully-electric urban bus that has been developed and manufactured in Germany. Quiet and emission-free on the road, it is an important building block on the way to reducing emissions, particularly in cities and other built-up areas. It impresses with innovative technology, particularly with its unique thermo-management which is essential for electric buses. It reduces energy consumption and in turn increases range. For example, an energy-saving heat pump heats the interior and heat-radiating components are connected to one another.
The modular battery packages have a total capacity of up to 243 kWh. They are cooled to an ideal temperature in the eCitaro which results in maximum charging, the highest usable capacity and a long life cycle. The batteries are recharged using a plug at the depot. They drive two electric motors at the wheel hub.
The eCitaro's elegant design is another reason why it stands out from other buses. It shows that this is obviously a very special Citaro. The three-door version for Hamburger Hochbahn AG boasts a comprehensive range of equipment with LED headlamps, LED exterior and interior lighting including ambient lighting in the passenger compartment, a warning system for closing doors with a red LED light strip, a separate automatic climate control for the passenger compartment and cockpit and ESP, the Electronic Stability Program.
The best-selling Citaro provides the platform for the eCitaro.
The new eCitaro is based on the best-selling Mercedes-Benz Citaro. In the meantime there are two generations of the bus and over 50,000 have been sold. It is driven in almost all western and central European cities and on several continents. The bus is available as a Citaro, Citaro hybrid and the Citaro NGT with a gas engine. The four-axle CapaCity bus for large cities is also a close relative of the Citaro.
Comprehensive partnership between Hamburg and Daimler AG.
In 2017, the city of Hamburg and Daimler AG agreed on a comprehensive partnership for urban mobility.
Jörg Lamparter, Head of Daimler Mobility Services: "Our partnership with Hamburg aims to expand electromobility across the board and promote innovative mobility solutions. For example, we will gradually electrify the car2go fleet and intensify cooperation within the framework of mobility as a service platform moovel.”
Hamburg's then First Mayor Olaf Scholz and Klaus Entenmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Financial Services, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement cooperation in different fields by 2020.
Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid is “Bus of the Year 2019”.
Thanks to its economical and consistently practical drive concept the Citaro hybrid emerged a convincing winner in this year's Bus Euro test in Zagreb, sweeping aside competition from fully-electric rivals. In particular, the international jury of experts rated the vehicle ahead of the competition by some distance in the categories covering economy, innovation, quality and user-friendliness.
Special attention was drawn to the fact that the new hybrid technology is offered with the choice of either a diesel or a petrol engine for all models across an extremely wide range of urban buses. With this technology the already exceptionally economical combustion engines from Mercedes-Benz benefit from a further significant increase in efficiency.
Stuttgart / Zagreb / Hanover - 19 September 2018
- Citaro hybrid on top in an international comparison thanks to economy and practicality
- Clever hybrid solutions
- Fully-integrated drive system
All good things come in threes.
Mercedes-Benz minibuses: All good things come in threes.
Dortmund, 12 July 2018
Stuttgart / Dortmund - Three good reasons for the Mercedes‑Benz minibus specialists in Dortmund to celebrate: A complete new generation of minibuses, based on the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and featuring a unique range of technology modules, is currently lining up for the start. At the same time, the 25 000th minibus has just been handed over. And on top of that, there's a birthday for the minibuses sporting the three-pointed star: It is now 20 years since Daimler joined forces with its bus and coach subsidiary EvoBus to enter the minibus segment, in a cooperation that can be counted as an extraordinary success story.
World premiere: new Mercedes-Benz minibuses with unique technology.
The new Mercedes‑Benz Sprinter forms the basis for a totally new generation of the successful minibuses bearing the three-pointed star. As before, they comprise the model series Sprinter City, Sprinter Transfer, Sprinter Mobility and Sprinter Travel. The names stand for operations in line service, as a versatile shuttle bus, for transport of passengers with limited mobility, and for tourist transport.
A stand-out role is played here by the all-new Sprinter City 75 with its exclusive technology. At 8.5 metres long, this regular-service bus has room for up to 38 passengers and features a unique frame structure. Its neat bodywork conceals some unrivalled technology. A special long wheelbase of 5095 mm, for example, provides the basis for a spacious low-floor platform between the axles. This can be put to flexible use with tip-up seats, wheelchair and pram bays, seating with a quick-change securing system or as standing space. Just as important is the heavy-duty rear axle, developed and manufactured exclusively for the Mercedes‑Benz minibuses. Its greater load-carrying capacity of 5.0 t provides the basis for a permissible gross vehicle weight of 6.8 t. Alongside the new Sprinter City 75 is the somewhat more compact Sprinter City 45.
The versatile Sprinter Transfer goes to the start with a comprehensive line-up. Its four models range from the 5.9-metre-long Sprinter Transfer 23 to the 7.7‑metre Sprinter Transfer 55, which features an extended rear end that complements the design perfectly. The Sprinter Mobility is the model series aimed specifically at carrying passengers with restricted mobility. The compact Sprinter Mobility 23 benefits from having a permissible gross vehicle weight of just 3.5 t. The Sprinter Mobility 45 deserves particular attention: a new raised floor has been added over the wheel arches. This allows two wheelchairs to stand alongside each other at the level of the rear axle.
The model start-up of the new minibuses will be staggered and will reflect the availability of the Sprinter: It will start later this year with the Sprinter Transfer 23 and 35, the Sprinter Mobility 23 and the completely re-engineered Sprinter City 75. The rest of the models in these series will follow next year, as will all models of the Sprinter Travel. Once the model changeover is complete, by autumn of 2019, the product range will comprise more than 20 left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive models.
Milestone: 25 000 minibuses, milestone model on the road in Italy.
A big milestone for the little buses: On July, 5th 2018 Busitalia had a delivery of the 25 000th minibus by Mercedes‑Benz, a Sprinter City 65 K. The vehicle is being deployed by the subsidiary company Busitalia Campania in the southern Italian city of Salerno and forms part of a major order encompassing 30 minibuses of this type. Busitalia itself is a subsidiary of the Italian State Railways, "Ferrovie dello State Italiane", and has in recent years already purchased several hundred full-size buses and minibuses from Mercedes-Benz.
The milestone vehicle features eye-catching two-tone paintwork in signal grey and ultramarine blue. Passengers can take their places on eight seats in the rear and two tip-up seats in the low-floor area between the axles. In addition to these there is a wheelchair bay and ample space for standing passengers. All in all, as many as 30 passengers can be accommodated in a bus just 7.0 metres in length. This minibus is fully air-conditioned as well as equipped with an enhanced heating system. It comes as standard with an air-sprung rear axle, the 7G-Tronic Plus torque-converter automatic transmission and a powerful diesel engine with an output of 120 kW (163 hp).
Birthday: 20 years of Mercedes-Benz minibuses – a great success story.
As well as reaching this special milestone, the minibuses from Mercedes‑Benz are celebrating a "round" birthday: It is now 20 years since EvoBus began its activities in this segment by taking a significant share in the minibus manufacturer Karl Koch GmbH in Mudersbach near Siegen, thereby becoming the leader in this sector. Full acquisition of the business and the establishment of Mercedes-Benz Minibus GmbH, based in Dortmund, followed in 2004.
Minibus production in Dortmund had in fact gradually been ramped up since 2000 and has now been completely concentrated on the plant there for the past ten years. Extended several times in the intervening years, the plant now employs around 260 people, producing between 1200 and 1600 vehicles a year on three body-shell lines and four assembly lines. This makes Mercedes-Benz the European market leader for minibuses over 3.5 t gross vehicle weight rating.
The minibuses these days are sold to more than 40 countries. The largest market is western Europe, but customers in Australia, South-East Asia and the Middle East also form part of the regular customer base.
Apart from the specific advantages of the individual products, the minibus specialists' recipe for success includes industrial production in Dortmund and close links to the development and production areas for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter as the base model. All conversion work is checked and approved by the factory. All production processes meet the same high quality standards as apply for all Mercedes-Benz vans. EvoBus supports minibus customers and their buses after the purchase just as intensively as it does with full-size buses. From sales, production and service to subsequent recycling – in the case of the minibuses bearing the three-pointed star, everything is handled by a single company.
Outlook on the IAA.
Daimler Buses gives an outlook on the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicles.
Mainz, 10 July 2018
Mainz – It emits zero local emissions and runs almost silently. It combines the thousand fold proven platform of Mercedes-Benz' best-selling city bus with new technological solutions and an independent design. The all-electric Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro takes electric city buses to a new level and impresses with its innovative thermal management system with exceptional energy efficiency and reliability of range. Its performance enables the eCitaro to cover a large part of the requirements of the transport operators right from the start.
"We no longer place a question mark after electric mobility for trucks and buses – we rather place an unequivocal exclamation mark! With our world premiere of the eCitaro today, we are shaping the future of the public transport network – and that is of great significance to our customers, to society and naturally enough to us at Daimler Trucks & Buses as well. That is why we are consistently working on the electrification of our vehicles – and we have been doing so for many years now", explains Martin Daum, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Daimler Trucks & Buses.
Daum continues: "Along with our customers we have built up valuable expertise and have moved forward step by step. But one thing has always been clear to us: Seriousness comes before speed. We want electric commercial vehicles that function reliably under all conditions – for example in any outdoor temperature, in any volume of traffic and on any topography. Reliability is especially important for city buses and the public transport network because here it's all about transporting people – safely and punctually."
The eCitaro gets a tailor-made trendsetting design.
It will be easy to spot the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro in the city in the future: It is based on the familiar looks of the Citaro, but takes up elements from the design idiom of the revolutionary Mercedes‑Benz Future Bus concept vehicle, thus transporting the unmistakable design of the Citaro into the future. This is particularly evident in the face of the eCitaro. Overall, the eCitaro sports a solid appearance with clearly drawn contours. Optical tricks lend the eCitaro perfect proportions and make it seem light.
First major orders secured – delivery from the end of the year.
The first Mercedes-Benz eCitaro will be delivered at the end of the year and will go into practical operations in the context of a so-called customer-oriented driving test. The Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH, operator of the local public transport system in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region, signed a corresponding declaration of intent with the Daimler subsidiary EvoBus GmbH. Series production of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro with all-electric drive will then begin at the end of the year at the Mannheim bus plant. The transport operators in Hamburg and Berlin have already ordered a total of 35 eCitaro buses.
eCitaro: Kick-off for an innovation initiative to electrify the public transport network.
"The new Mercedes-Benz eCitaro is the kick-off for an innovation initiative to electrify the public transport network. In doing so, we are offering our customers more than just a battery concept, rather a complete eMobility system. Our in-house eMobility Consulting service advises our customers on their journey to electric mobility", says Till Oberwörder, Head of Daimler Buses and Chairman of the Board of Management of EvoBus GmbH.
The electric Citaro forms part of Daimler Buses' integrated eMobility system. The focus is on the eConsulting expert advice service even before any purchase is made. Experts at EvoBus analyse every route the customer operates and a simulation program then calculates the energy requirements for the future electric buses in the system. This consultation results in precise recommendations and calculations on energy consumption, the infrastructure required and the recommended connection power for the depots' power supply as well as recommendations for charging management. A special eMobility service from the Omniplus service brand will be available in future for service, maintenance and repair.
Oberwörder explains: "We are already showing our customers today what we have planned for the future: That we are continuing to improve the range for the eCitaro and what technology paths we will be taking to achieve this. We are taking this unusual step because we want to ensure planning security to the municipalities at an early stage. For us it is decisive that they know they can make long-term plans with us for changing to electromobility."
CASE strategy at Daimler Buses: Investments of 200 million euro by 2020.
In order to shape the future of mobility, Daimler Buses is investing around 200 million euro in the implementation of the CASE strategy, and that is just up until 2020. CASE at Daimler stands for the future topics of connectivity (Connected), autonomous driving (Autonomous), flexible use (Shared & Services) and electric powertrains (Electric). A significant proportion is going toward building up competencies, and into development and production of electric buses. Series production of the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro will take place in the Mannheim production plant. The development team based in Neu-Ulm will also be increasingly dedicating themselves to semi-automated and automated driving in future.
An overview of the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro.
The platform of the new Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro is the Citaro, the brand’s best-selling city bus with more than 50 000 units sold. Lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of up to about 243 kWh provide the power for the eCitaro.They are modular in design: the batteries are divided between as many as ten modules, each supplying around 25 kWh. In addition to two battery modules on the vehicle roof, the standard equipment includes four battery modules in the rear of the bus. Depending upon customer requirements, another two or four battery modules are mounted on the roof of the eCitaro. With a minimum of six and up to a maximum of ten possible battery modules, transport operators can adapt their usage and charging strategy very precisely to individual needs.
With the maximum complement of ten battery modules, the eCitaro in standard specification weighs around 13.44 tonnes. In conjunction with a gross vehicle weight rating of 19.5 tonnes, this corresponds to a payload of more than six tonnes or around 88 passengers – in line with what is needed in practice even during rush hour.
The eCitaro's charging technology also allows it to adjust to the individual wishes and requirements of the transport operators. For the start of series production, plug-in charging is intended. To this end, the city bus has a connection for a Combo 2 plug. If opportunity charging is required to extend the range, there will also be an option to charge the eCitaro via a pantograph in future.
However, the battery capacity alone provides little indication of the actual performance capability and, above all, the range of an all-electric city bus - the true measure is that of energy consumption. In the case of a city bus, this is impacted significantly by climatic conditions and consequently by the need to cool and, above all, to heat the interior. The engineers have therefore put a considerable amount of thought into the issue of thermal management. It is one of the outstanding features of the eCitaro and has been honed and refined in every detail: compared with the current Citaro with combustion engine, the energy requirement for heating, ventilation and climate control has fallen by about 40 percent. This exceptional energy efficiency provides the basis for the eCitaro's practical operating range – even under unfavourable conditions.
High efficiency: practical range also under difficult conditions.
Operating range figures for all-electric-powered city buses are often difficult to compare since reference values can be missing and the figures have often been calculated under ideal conditions. Things are different with the eCitaro: In the interests of reliable data, Mercedes-Benz prefers to consider a "worst-case scenario" and therefore takes its direction from the challenging standardised city driving cycle known as SORT2. To make things even trickier, Mercedes‑Benz also adds the energy requirements of the ancillary consumers into the equation. According to SORT2, the Citaro with a full complement of batteries should be able to achieve an operating range of around 150 kilometres in the summer. In other words, it is already possible to serve some sub-networks within the daily workload of a city bus without opportunity charging. Without opportunity charging, the eCitaro already covers about one third of all requirements of the transport operators. Under ideal conditions, the eCitaro even drives around 250 kilometres without opportunity charging.
The future is electric: kick-off for an innovation initiative.
The new Mercedes-Benz eCitaro of the year 2018 is the kick-off for an innovation initiative with a clear strategy aimed at the swift and above all practical electrification of public transit with buses in cities and population centres. The eCitaro will be able to replace city buses powered by a combustion engine nearly completely in just a few years.
Without opportunity charging, the new eCitaro of the year 2018 already covers about 30 percent of all requirements of the transport operators. Since the development of battery technology is progressing at a rapid pace, the eCitaro is already designed to be transitioned to the future battery technology. The next generation of the eCitaro will then cover around 50 percent of all applications. This greater battery capacity also makes a meaningful introduction of an eCitaro G articulated bus with a reasonable range possible. Additional development steps are already mapped out, including the use of so-called solid-state batteries, which are characterised by a particularly long service life as well as high energy density. With a rated battery capacity of about 400 kWh in the solo bus and even more in the articulated bus, the eCitaro will then meet about 70 percent of all requirements without opportunity charging.
Revolutionary step: Fuel cell as a range extender.
Subsequently, the range of the eCitaro will be increased yet again by a range extender in the form of a fuel cell that generates electricity. It will be designed to allow the eCitaro to fulfil nearly 100 percent of all requirements on city buses. This technology eliminates the need for opportunity charging and the complex infrastructure required for it in almost all cases – the eCitaro will be able to replace city buses with combustion engine virtually one to one.
Public funding supports development.
The development of a marketable city bus transport system using solely battery power takes place via the "SAEBEL" project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure as part of the electric mobility funding policy with a total of 1.85 million euro. The implementation of the funding policy is being coordinated by NOW, the German "National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel-Cell Technology". Results of the various funding activities of the BMVI in the context of local public transport are combined within the programme support research as part of the working group "Innovative Powertrains Bus". To accelerate the market development for the eCitaro with fuel-cell technology as a range extender, Daimler Buses aims for funding as part of the German "National Innovation Programme - Hydrogen and Fuel-Cell Technology" (NIP).
Other IAA world premieres: new assistance systems, Active Brake Assist 4 as standard.
Mercedes-Benz and Setra again set standards in active safety at the 2018 IAA with assistance systems. Active Brake Assist 4 for touring coaches is the first ever brake assist system that also brakes for pedestrians. It will become standard equipment on the touring coaches from Mercedes-Benz and Setra in 2019. Preventive Brake Assist is the first active brake assist system ever for city buses. Finally, Sideguard Assist is the first assistance system to warn of pedestrians, cyclists and stationary obstacles when turning. It is available for the entire range of city buses and touring coaches from Mercedes-Benz and Setra. All three assistance systems unburden the driver in his work and protect more vulnerable road users. All three can save lives.
World premiere: The new generation of Mercedes-Benz minibuses.
The new Mercedes‑Benz Sprinter forms the basis for a likewise totally new generation of the successful minibuses bearing the three-pointed star. As before, they comprise the model series Sprinter City, Sprinter Transfer, Sprinter Mobility and Sprinter Travel, and will be launched successively. The names stand for operations in line service, as a versatile shuttle bus, for transport of passengers with limited mobility, and for tourist transport. As a result, the Sprinter as a minibus covers all conceivable types of operations. The Sprinter City 75 with exclusive technology plays a prominent role: Thanks to an extended wheelbase, the compact city bus with discreet skeleton body offers a large low-floor platform and due to its exclusive high-load rear axle manages a high passenger capacity.
Premiere: service becomes digital with Uptime and Omniplus On.
Service for buses and coaches becomes digital with Omniplus On, and opens up entirely new possibilities for bus operators and drivers thanks to connectivity. Digital services are bundled in a clearly arranged way on the new Internet portal Omniplus On. Omniplus On initially rests on three pillars. Omniplus On advance ensures maximum fleet availability for bus operators, for example with the revolutionary service Omniplus Uptime for continuously monitoring the relevant vehicle systems in real time. The data are continuously analysed and interpreted. If there are impending severe technical malfunctions, the bus operator is immediately informed by Omniplus 24h Service, together with concrete recommended actions to prevent a vehicle breakdown. Omniplus On monitor combines the telematics services for efficient fleet management.
Finally, Omniplus On drive ensures the communication between the driver and the company, and helps the driver with the required daily departure check, for example.
Bestseller of Daimler Buses.
Dortm. Stadtw. rejuvenate city bus lines with the MB Citaro.
Dortmund, 6 July 2018
Stuttgart / Dortmund – Dortmunder Stadtwerke AG (DSW21) is rejuvenating its city bus fleet and putting 13 new Mercedes-Benz Citaros into service. The acquisition took place via the purchase cooperation of the KÖR Group (cooperation of the eastern Ruhr district), of which DSW21 is also a member. With the purchase of the modern Euro VI Citaro Dortmunder Stadtwerke is underlining its ambitious goals of rejuvenating the urban bus fleet with environmentally-friendly Euro VI vehicles as quickly and consistently as possible.
In terms of equipment, the new Citaros perfectly reflect the specified vehicle design of the KÖR Group. With this strongly specified design standard an appearance that is as modern as it is environmentally friendly is shown for all buses of the purchasing group. This means the new Citaros of the DSW21 are also equipped with air conditioning, LED headlamps, manually operated folding ramp and a video monitoring system, amongst other things.
Overall, the Citaro Euro VI convinces with a wealth of innovative technical details and is known for its outstanding efficiency. Not for nothing is it the bestselling Mercedes-Benz city bus of all time. But the high economy is not only down to the efficient Euro VI engines. An intelligent "energy collector", the so-called recuperation module, saves electricity in overrun mode and holds it ready for auxiliary consumers. When starting the bus the module then specifically feeds the energy to the auxiliary consumers. This active support of the battery/alternator management relieves the drive system and contributes towards the high efficiency of the classic city bus.
The local transport services of Dortmunder Stadtwerke AG is a part of the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr, one of the largest transport associations in Europe. Around 135 million passengers use the DSW21 services each year.
RNV improves city bus fleet's environmental footprint.
Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid: RNV improves city bus fleet's environmental footprint.
Mannheim, 26 June 2018
Stuttgart/Mannheim – On 26 June Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (RNV) took charge of the first four of a total of seven Citaro hybrid vehicles at the Mannheim bus depot. Rüdiger Kappel (on the left in the image), head of sales for fleets in Germany, handed over the symbolic key of the new hybrid fleet to Markus Wolf, head of motor vehicles at RNV Mannheim. Procuring the new, environmentally friendly Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrids is one of the immediate measures RNV has taken to improve the air quality in the cities of Mannheim, Ludwigshafen am Rhein and Heidelberg in the south west of Germany.
Minimising emissions – increasing availability.
The hybrid components significantly reduce the emissions of Citaro city buses to thus make the model even more environmentally friendly and interesting for municipalities and cities pursuing an active environmental policy. In this process, an electric motor positioned between engine and automatic transmission uses the energy recovered during coasting or braking to support the diesel engine with additional torque. Consequently, the combustion engine must generate significantly lower levels of output during acceleration or when moving off thanks to the electric support and this saves fuel and cuts emissions.
All seven Citaro hybrid vehicles feature identical equipment including tactile grab bars at doors one and two as well as a mechanically folding ramp. Public transport operators spared three rows of seats to gain a large area in the centre of the vehicle for two wheelchairs that can also be used for special purposes, such as carrying bicycles or pushchairs.
RNV is relying on the new "Omniplus Uptime" telematics system to implement a fleet management system. "Omniplus Uptime" permanently monitors and analyses vehicle data to derive suggested actions. This boosts vehicle availability and optimises maintenance and service processes.
About RNV.
The procurement of the seven new, environmentally friendly Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid is an immediate measure as part of which RNV is pursuing implementation of its master plan for sustainable mobility in the Rhein and Neckar metropolitan area in the south west of Germany. This metropolitan area roughly encompasses a region across the three federal German states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse surrounding the cities of Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Heidelberg. The region with a population of 2.4 million is considered Germany's seventh largest economic area. Consequently, the bundled, local public transport network of the three cities is crucial and this is what RNV provides. It is the company's clearly defined objective to drive forward sustainable local public transport.
Five Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid buses will be in service throughout Ludwigshafen in Rhineland-Palatinate and two will carry passengers on the opposite side of the river Rhine in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg.
Stars over Berlin.
Berlin's local public transport operator (BVG) is launching.
Berlin, 15 June 2018
Stuttgart/Berlin – A short while ago we received the record order for up to 950 city buses from Berlin, and now we received the next order for 15 fully electrically driven Mercedes-Benz Citaro – the star is shining over the German capital. Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), Berlin's local public transport operator, as Germany's largest bus operator, is consequently opting for the locally zero-emissions version of the Citaro as well as the low-emissions variant of the world's best-seller with combustion engine.
Already the third order even before the world première at IAA.
Till Oberwörder, head of Daimler Buses: "We are delighted that Germany's largest bus operator is also relying on Mercedes-Benz within the context of fully electrically driven buses. And the company is doing so even before the official première of the new bus."
The 15 buses will be delivered from the first quarter of 2019. The order from Berlin is already the third order for the new city bus which will be celebrating its world première at Daimler Buses' IAA preview in July.
High-tech components reduce the energy consumption and maximise the range.
The Citaro for Berlin features ten battery modules. They are charged at the depot using plugs. The vehicles are driven using an E-axle featuring electric motors near the wheel hubs. Highly developed thermal management with high-tech components, such as a heat pump, cut the energy consumption.
In the passenger compartment the fully electrically driven Citaro is identical to its conventionally driven equivalent. The BVG versions of the electric buses bearing the star feature ample equipment. There are dedicated screens to inform passengers with reduced mobility who sit with their backs to the direction of travel. Most of all persons with visual impairments will benefit from tactile grab bars featuring a grooved profile.
New Mercedes-Benz minibus launch.
The next generation is already in testing on public roads.
Dortmund, 4 June 2018
Dortmund - The new Mercedes-Benz minibuses are currently undergoing testing. The model was on show in Dortmund, the home of Minibus GmbH. The city in western Germany is where the new minibus is undergoing road testing.
New Sprinter also means new Mercedes-Benz minibus.
A new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is always also the occasion for a new generation of minibuses bearing the star. The best-seller amongst vans in its category is ideally suited as a platform for bodies and conversions. The next Sprinter is already available to order and so minibus developers are intensively working on new models.
Without a doubt, the new minibus designs will also benefit from the numerous cockpit variants, safety and assistance systems as well as the many advantages of the new sprinter.
The doors indicate that the illustrated minibus is from the Sprinter City model series for scheduled-service operation. It must be the large version – maybe the successor of the previous version of the three-axle Sprinter 77? I'm sure that we will see clearly soon.
Citaro successful in Berlin.
Record order for Citaro: Mercedes-Benz to deliver up to 950 city buses to BVG.
Berlin, 8. May 2018
Stuttgart/Berlin - It is the largest individual order of all times for the city bus best-seller Mercedes-Benz Citaro and simultaneously the largest order placed by a German transport company: Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) will be receiving up to 950 city buses bearing the star over the coming years.
Flexible order: up to 600 articulated and 350 solo buses for Berlin.
Till Oberwörder, head of Daimler Buses: "the order from Berlin is once again a great success for the number one city bus best-seller. I am delighted that the clean and safe Citaro has convinced our long-term customer BVG – and is thus contributing to efficient and sustainable mobility in the capital."
The framework agreements between Daimler Buses and the German capital's transport company have been split up into a maximum of 600 articulated buses and up to 350 solo buses. The city buses will gradually be delivered to Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) over the coming years.
The agreement is very flexible. There is no obligation to accept the vehicles. As a rule, Citaro models have been equipped with highly efficient, low-emission engines as per the most recent, European emission standard.
BVG: 1,400 buses carry 441 million passengers each year.
Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe BVG deploy around 1,400 buses on their 154 bus routes, including around 1,000 solo and articulated buses, more than 300 of which already bear the star. BVG buses carried 441 million passengers last year. Mercedes-Benz buses and predecessor makes can look back on a long tradition in Berlin: the first buses on a Daimler basis already travelled around the German capital in 1905 on behalf of "Allgemeine Berliner Omnibus Aktien Gesellschaft" (ABOAG), a predecessor of today's Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), Berlin's local transport company.
Worldwide best-seller Mercedes-Benz Citaro: energised in every sense.
With more than 50 000 vehicles the Citaro is the city bus that has been sold most throughout the world. It is used in almost all European countries and cities. Introduced in 1997, 2011 saw the launch of the second generation. The range includes solo and articulated buses, city as well as inter-city buses, namely the Low Entry Citaro LE. The four-axle, CapaCity large-capacity bus is based on the Citaro. The Citaro is a role model in its vehicle category in many respects. It was the first city bus that complied with the currently most stringent Euro VI emissions standard. The model has been available for delivery since 2012. The Citaro is not only full of energy in terms of its production figures: the efficient Citaro hybrid and the fully electrically driven Citaro represent the most recent developments with extraordinary properties. It will already be launched in series production as early as this year.
Hamburg is energised.
1st big order of fully e-driven MBCitaro: HHB orders 20 buses.
Hamburg, 3 May 2018
Stuttgart/Hamburg - Its official world première is still to come, yet the first large-scale order has already been placed: Mercedes-Benz delivers 20 new, fully electrically driven Citaro city buses to Hamburger Hochbahn AG, the city's local transport company. The first two vehicles will already be handed over this year.
On the way to a green bus fleet thanks to the fully electrically driven Citaro.
Till Oberwörder, head of Daimler Buses: "the first large-scale order of our electrically driven, zero-emission Citaro has been placed even before its official première - this underlines transport companies' trust in our electric mobility concept in local transport. With the Citaro we are launching an essential component on the way to local, zero-emissions bus transport on the market."
Hamburger Hochbahn AG, Hamburg's local transport company, agrees as it considers the city buses a milestone on the way to a green bus fleet. If possible, Hamburger Hochbahn AG will exclusively procure zero-emission buses from 2020.
Citaro: maximum energy efficiency thanks to unique thermal management.
The new, fully electrically driven Citaro will be launched in series production as early as this year. It most of all convinces with maximum energy efficiency, based on a unique thermal management, reducing energy consumption and thus boosting the range. As a result, an energy-saving heat pump is responsible for heating the passenger compartment. The vehicle is driven by a rear axle featuring motors installed in the vicinity of the wheel hubs.
The modular structure of its batteries is also typical for the Citaro. They provide an overall capacity of up to 243 kWh. The batteries are cooled to an ideal temperature, resulting in maximum charge, maximum usable capacity and a long service life. Batteries are charged at the depot using connectors. After the Citaro's series introduction additional variants for intermediate charging en route will also be available.
The new, fully electrically driven city bus is based on the worldwide best-seller Mercedes-Benz Citaro. In the meantime, the vehicle's two generations have sold more than 50,000 units and they are used in almost all cities throughout western and central Europe, excelling on several continents.
Close and successful partnership spanning many decades.
Hamburger Hochbahn AG operates 111 routes with 1237 stops and around 1000 buses. The company transports around 212 million passengers each year.
Mercedes-Benz and Hamburger Hochbahn AG can look back on a very long and successful collaboration. In 1997, the Hamburg-based company was one of the first customers to purchase the first generation of the revolutionary Mercedes-Benz Citaro low-floor city bus. Mercedes-Benz has delivered more than 1000 Citaro to Hamburg to date. Be it the joint development of the articulated, rear-engined bus more than 40 years ago or the recent deployment of Citaro FuelCELL and FuelCELL Hybrid in Hamburg –
Mercedes-Benz and Hamburger Hochbahn AG drive forward innovative technology together.
Citaro with fully electrical drive.
Locally emission-free and almost silently through the city.
Stuttgart, 05 March 2018
Stuttgart - The fully electricity powered Mercedes-Benz Citaro drives emission-free locally, almost silently and raises electric mobility with city buses to a new level. The 12 m version will experience its world première in September at IAA Commercial Vehicles ; series start will already be this year. The new Citaro impresses with a previously unknown level of energy efficiency. Furthermore, the intelligent module concept of battery and charging technology convinces.
Citaro: from low emissions bus to zero emissions bus.
With low-emission and in future locally emission-free city buses Mercedes-Benz offers the answers to the demands for an environmentally friendly public transport market. All are based on the global bestseller Citaro, the first city bus in the world with the currently strictest emission standard Euro VI in 2012. The Citaro hybrid fully becomes a low-emission bus with once again lowered fuel consumption. And the gas-powered Citaro NGT drives practically CO2-neutrally with organic natural gas. The fully electricity powered Citaro now completes the step from low-emission bus to zero-emission bus.
Electrical portal axle, module concept of the batteries, flexible charging technology.
Its Drive is supported on an electrical portal axle with electric motors on the wheel hubs. The peak performance of the motors totals 2 x 125 kW, the torque 2 x 485 Nm. It is, depending on the system, fully available from the start and secures an appropriate dynamism even when fully loaded.
Lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of up to around 243 kWh take over the power supply. They divide themselves into a maximum of ten modules. Alongside two high-voltage battery modules on the roof four modules in the rear belong to the standard equipment. Depending on customer requirements, two or four further high-voltage battery modules can be added to the roof.
The charging technology is also flexible. For the series introduction, charging via Combo-2 plugs is intended. If recharging is required to extend the range, the Citaro can in future also optionally be charged by current collector. The Citaro therefore covers all conventional variants.
With this intelligent module concept of battery and charging technology Mercedes-Benz opens up the opportunity for the transport operators to adjust the Citaro precisely to the individual requirements of the company or even individual routes.
Thermal management: new ways to heating and climate control.
The energy consumption of a fully electrically powered city bus is decisively influenced by the cooling and, above all, the heating of the large interior. That's why thermal management is included in the outstanding features of the Citaro: its exceptional energy efficiency forms the basis for a practical range of the Citaro.
The passenger compartment of the Citaro is heated by a heat pump, saving energy. Plus, the usual sidewall heaters with blowers and the front heater. All heat-producing components are networked with one another in order to reduce the energy requirement for their cooling to a minimum. The roof-mounted air conditioning system is additionally used as a heat pump at cold times of year. Further advantages are offered by the use of the CO2 refrigerant. It is convincing with a particularly efficient use of the heat pump even at very low temperatures.
A further plus: even during the charging of the batteries in the depot the vehicle interior can be pre and even over-conditioned to the desired temperature. This allows the bus to already start heated or cooled.
Practical range under difficult conditions.
For the range specification Mercedes-Benz prefers a worst case scenario and orientates itself by the demanding standardised SORT2 urban cycle. According to it, the Citaro with batteries at full capacity can achieve a range of around 150 kilometres in the summer. This allows partial networks in the daily workload of a city bus to be operated without recharging already today.
Rethinking urban mobility: the eMobility overall system.
Electric mobility means rethinking urban mobility with buses. The fully electrically powered Citaro is a part of the eMobility overall system by Daimler Buses. Before procurement there is the expert advice of eConsulting. Experts analyse every route, assess the uses and link them. A simulation programme calculates the energy requirement. The results are precise recommendations and calculations on charging infrastructure, energy consumption, power input of the power supply of the depot and charge management.
Service, maintenance and repairs change with electric mobility. The eMobility service of the OMNIplus service brand therefore offers tailor-made service concepts. This begins with the classic support of the customer workshop, continues to workshop services in conjunction with service contracts in ex factory competence centres and leads to BusDepot Management: here employees of OMNIplus take on set work up to the all-round service of the vehicles directly in the customer workshop.