Daimler Buses to demonstrate holistic solutions for public transport at Busworld Europe

The Daimler Buses presence in Brussels at the world’s biggest specialist exhibition for buses “Busworld Europe” is all about holistic solutions for the bus mobility of tomorrow.

The focus of the trade fair presentation will be the overall e-mobility system from Daimler Buses. The fully-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro, which is produced in series at the Mannheim plant and is available for ordering by customers, offers municipal authorities and transport businesses the opportunity to adapt their fleets to local zero-emission driving. This battery-powered city bus thus stands for environmentally friendly public transportation and contributes to better air quality and thus to enhanced living conditions in cities.

eCitaro buses are already in regular service in cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Oslo/Norway and Ystad/Sweden; deliveries have already been made to Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Further three-figure Europe-wide deliveries will take place this year, and also successively in the coming years - the demand is dependent on the local characteristics of the transport companies.

The eCitaro is being continuously further developed with regard to its practical operation in regular service - future technological developments will give customers security regarding their fleet planning. Depending on its intended use, the eCitaro can also be ordered with as many as twelve battery packs. This results in a range around 170 kilometres, under typical city bus conditions, without recharging along the route. From 2020, a further model variant of the eCitaro will also be available: an articulated bus (eCitaro G) with 145 passenger seats.

From 2021 the eCitaro will be launched with the next battery generation and in the second half of 2020 with solid-state batteries (lithium polymer batteries). From 2022 there will be the battery bus with Range Extender (hydrogen-based fuel cell supplying a high-voltage battery with electricity). Future battery technologies will lead to increased operational coverage in regular operations - with the fuel cell as a range extender, almost all lines could then be catered for.

The eCitaro is compatible with all common charging technologies: Besides 150 kW charging using a cable, rapid charging at around 300 kW using a roof-mounted pantograph will also be available by the end of 2019. Rapid charging by means of fixed-position charging contact arms in conjunction with charging rails installed on the bus roof (the so-called “inverted pantograph” principle) is also in preparation.

Since the electrification of bus fleets requires major changes in transport businesses, Daimler Buses accompanies its customers in their understanding of an overall e-mobility system with a comprehensive consulting approach. The Daimler Buses e-Mobility-Consulting team takes into account, among other things, line length, passenger volume, energy requirements, range calculations and charge management when determining the possible operation from case to case. E-mobility solutions tailored to the customer's needs are the result.

Customers are also accompanied when it comes to service as well: workshop consulting for e-mobility systems and training courses for work on high-voltage systems, modified service networks due to e-mobility or eco-trainings for drivers are the building blocks of the Omniplus eMobility service concept.

The entire e-mobility system from Daimler Buses is thus a component of the Daimler Sustainability Strategy 2039 and demonstrates, among other things, the path which Daimler Buses is taking towards achieving sustainable and emission-free mobility.