Premiere: customer takes delivery of first Mercedes-Benz Citaro Low Entry model

Don't Copy From This Blog...

The delivery of the first two Mercedes-Benz Citaro Low Entry (LE) Euro VI models to the company infra fürth verkehr gmbh marks the expansion of the new Citaro family by a total of five Low Entry model variants. Klaus Dieregsweiler, representative for infra fürth verkehr gmbh, took delivery of the symbolic keys to the first Citaro LE from Rüdiger Kappel, brand spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz Buses and Coaches, Germany, at the Mercedes-Benz bus plant in Mannheim on 16 April. The new Citaro LE thus replaces its extremely successful predecessor, while at the same time heralding the introduction of further Citaro Euro VI models.

Growth in the Citaro family

In addition to the Euro VI variant of the Citaro LE, the short variants of the Citaro, namely the Citaro K, and also right-hand drive Citaro models in the guise of the Citaro Solo and Citaro K, are now also available with Euro VI engines. As a result the urban bus family is almost complete, comprising suitable vehicles to meet virtually every possible customer requirement.

Low Entry: passenger-friendly and economical

As the term "Low Entry" suggests, these buses feature a low-floor design from the front section up to and including the centre entrance, and a raised floor behind the centre entrance (door 2). As well as providing a high level of passenger comfort, even for passengers with restricted mobility, this "composite" design also allows the uncomplicated and maintenance-friendly installation of the major assemblies in the rear area.

Tried-and-tested components from low-floor and raised-floor buses

Like its predecessor, the Citaro LE with Euro VI engine combines the advantages of a low-floor bus with those of a raised-floor bus. Both regular-service buses – the Citaro LE and the Citaro – are practically identical up to the area behind the centre entrance door. The low-floor area of the Citaro LE is exactly the same as that of the Citaro rigid bus. At the same time, in the rear section of the passenger compartment, passengers benefit from enhanced ride comfort thanks to the drive axle and transmission being lifted from the rural-service bus and touring coach modular systems. The raised roof also allows standing room at the rear of the Citaro LE. However, the Citaro LE has only been raised where necessary: as the bus features the same front body section as the standard Citaro, the sense of spaciousness is as pleasant and harmonious at the front as it is at the rear. At the same time the Citaro manages to maintain completely its sleek, distinctive exterior lines.

The look of the Citaro LE

Unlike its predecessor, whose side line rose in the rear area, the new Citaro LE is barely distinguishable from the Citaro solo bus. When viewed from the side, the fact that the floor has been raised by 310 mm from the centre of the vehicle is only noticeable as a result of the slightly longer raised roof section extending towards the front. By adopting the front section of the Citaro and not increasing the height in this area, the bus achieves a well-proportioned overall look. The side line has been retained in full. The optionally available roof-mounted air-conditioning system can be fitted in its familiar place, as on the Citaro. Appearance-wise, passengers will scarcely notice any external difference between the Citaro and the Citaro LE. Even the rear is derived from the solo bus. Only the cooling ribs positioned on the right-hand side of the tailgate, and the raised roof transition, are indicative of the LE variant.

A true Citaro - on the inside too

Links with the Citaro family are clearly evident in the passenger area of the Citaro LE, which includes wall-mounted cantilever seats for the urban bus as well as twin seats with aisle-side supporting feet and the classic handrails which curve outwards at the top. The raised ceiling in the rear area exactly reflects the design of the front ceiling area. The cross duct in the transition from the low-floor front section to the raised rear section conveniently accommodates a destination display or a monitor for the rear rows of seats.

While the Citaro LE makes use of the tried-and-tested City Star Eco seating, the rural-service variant of the Citaro LE comes fitted with Inter Star Eco inter-city seats. In the rural-service version, spacious, trough-shaped luggage racks can be fitted from the front end through to the area above the rear axle. The luggage racks also feature grab rails for the benefit of standing passengers. As an option for rural-service applications, service units comprising ventilation nozzles, reading lights and buttons for the passenger stop request system can be integrated into the luggage racks.

As in the previous model, two shallow steps in front of the rear axle, each 195 mm high, lead up to the raised-floor area at the rear. Thanks to the roof being raised by 310 mm here, the feeling of spaciousness at the rear is as pleasant as at the front of the bus. The floor-to-ceiling height in front of the rear platform is a spacious 2.05 m. The raised floor part rises only gently from the second door, and does away completely with steps. This benefits passive safety and makes it easier to clean the vehicle. All the seats in the rear of the bus face forwards, while the rows rise steadily from front to rear like cinema seats. The rear seat bench has sufficient space to accommodate five passengers.

RO 440 rear axle for coach-like ride comfort

Due to the raised floor concept at the rear, the bus is fitted with the RO 440 hypoid axle, a tried-and-tested performer from the Mercedes-Benz touring coach range. The main advantage of the hypoid axle over the portal axle fitted on vehicles with a low floor throughout is the single-stage ratio of the centrally positioned differential, meaning low inner frictional resistance and, as a result, favourable fuel consumption figures and low noise levels. Since there is more installation space available for the rear axle below the raised floor area, an extremely effective suspension system offering coach-like ride comfort can be fitted. The maximum spring travel of the RO 440 axle has increased by 70 percent compared with a portal axle - that corresponds to an increase in travel of 50 mm, from 70 mm to 120 mm.

Powerful Euro VI engines with Power Boost option

The Citaro LE already makes use of the comprehensively revised and extremely economical Euro VI engine series from the Mercedes-Benz Citaro. Forming the basis of the engine line-up is the vertically installed OM 936 six-cylinder in-line engine with a displacement of 7.7 litres. As standard the engine meets the Euro VI emissions standard, and in the recent Record Run Buses 2012 demonstrated the potential to achieve fuel savings of up to 8.5 percent compared with a Euro V engine. The basic engine has an output of 220 kW (295 hp). As an option, a 260 kW (354 hp) variant is also available. The OM 936 works with two asymmetrical exhaust gas turbochargers and two-stage charging, which helps to guarantee a response which is characterised by high levels of torque.

Even better response is promised by the new Power Boost System (PBS). In brief, this technical refinement will be available for the engine rated at 260 kW. The new system is designed to guarantee better "sprint performance" when moving off, particularly on topographically demanding routes. To achieve this, the Power Boost System pumps compressed air from the standard compressed-air system into the engine's intake tract, thereby increasing air throughput in the short term. This in turn results in increased short-term starting torque, which can prove invaluable at bus stops located on inclines.

Like its urban bus counterpart, gear changes are taken care of in the Citaro LE by an automatic transmission, optionally available from ZF or Voith.

The variants of the new Citaro LE

The Citaro LE range comprises two-axle urban and rural regular-service buses. The Citaro LE urban bus is 12 metres long and comes with a choice of two or three doors. The rural-service bus variant in the guise of the Citaro LE Ü (12 metres long) has two entrance doors, while the Citaro LE MÜ (13.1 metres long) is available both with two and three entrance doors. All variants of the Citaro LE are 2.55 metres wide and have a maximum height of 3.315 m at the rear. The Citaro LE urban regular-service bus can carry 101 passengers, while the rural-service bus has a capacity of 83 passengers (plus the driver's seat in each case).

The handover vehicle in detail

In addition to their economical Euro VI engines, the two Citaro LE buses handed over to infra fürth verkehr gmbh also boast a comprehensive package of equipment and appointments. The 50 City Star passenger seats are supplemented with a wheelchair space with grab handle, stop request buttons and a lean-on area with integrated folding seat (mother/child seat), as well as two additional folding seats in the standing platform area opposite door 2. The interior bus-stop name displays consist of two 48 cm (19-inch) TFT monitors in the front and rear of the vehicle. Linked to an integrated on-board information system (IBIS), they are able to display information on the vehicle's progress along the route as well as the next stop. In addition, news items, event notices and advertisements can also be displayed.

In addition to a video monitoring system for door 2, infra fürth has also ordered a reversing camera which can be used not only as a parking aid but also to monitor the area around the rear of the vehicle. The images are transferred to a video monitor in the driver's cockpit. Additional safety equipment includes a fire alarm and extinguishing system in the engine compartment.

About infra fürth verkehr gmbh

The company infra fürth verkehr gmbh is responsible for the entire public local transport system in the city of Fürth. With 8 routes covering a route length of around 1147 kilometres, the transport operator carried around 18 million passengers in 2012. The company's fleet currently comprises 54 vehicles, 48 of which are Citaro models. Among these 48 vehicles is also the milestone 25,000th Citaro, which was handed over to infra fürth verkehr gmbh in a special ceremony in Stuttgart in 2009. The two Citaro LE vehicles with Euro VI engines will be deployed in future on all routes in the Franconian city of Fürth.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

Read More

Nine Citaro Euro VI solo buses delivered to BLT Baselland Transport AG in Switzerland

Don't Copy From This Blog...

On 04 April, BLT Baselland Transport AG in Switzerland took delivery of nine Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses meeting the requirements of the future Euro VI emissions standard. These are the first standard-production regular-service solo buses featuring this clean technology to go into service with BLT in Switzerland.

Emission control system comprising SCR technology plus exhaust gas recirculation

The new Citaro meeting Euro VI is currently the cleanest diesel-driven regular-service bus on the market. An optimised combustion process and a sophisticated emission control system reduce particulate emissions to just three percent of the level specified by Euro I twenty years ago, while nitrogen oxide emissions have been cut to five percent.

In addition to new engines and an extensive emission control system, the Citaro also features a new outer shell. Thanks to a raft of design measures, the buses weigh no more than previously – despite the additional technology on board. They even offer lower fuel consumption – and therefore lower CO2 emissions – than originally expected. Mercedes-Benz has implemented a number of measures to compensate for the additional weight of the Euro VI components, including a lightweight fibreglass-reinforced-plastic (FRP) roof and a weight-optimised rear axle. The Citaro is therefore able to boast the same high payload and passenger-carrying capacity as before.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

Read More

Fuel cell buses with hybrid technology provide shuttle service at Davos

Don't Copy From This Blog...

Two Mercedes‑Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid buses with fuel cell technology will be providing both shuttle and regular services from 23 to 27 January 2013 at the prestigious "World Economic Forum" in Davos.

At the 43rd annual meeting of the charitable foundation, leading international economic experts, politicians, intellectuals and journalists will be discussing the world's most urgent challenges with regard to health and the environment. With this in mind the Mercedes‑Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid buses are an ideal means of transport. PostAuto Schweiz AG will be providing the vehicles for transporting participants.

PostAuto is the first bus company in Switzerland to use fuel cell technology in public transport. Since the end of 2011, five Mercedes‑Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid Postbuses have been employed on PostAuto regular service routes in and around Brugg (Aargau canton). PostAuto is carrying out a long-term test of fuel cell drive systems. The fuel cell Postbuses use only environmentally-friendly and sustainably produced hydrogen as a fuel. PostAuto estimates that 2000 tonnes of CO2 will be saved during the five-year test phase.

Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses is very enthusiastic about the promising future of eco-friendly fuel cell buses: "I had the opportunity to see operation on the ground. I am very impressed with how PostAuto Schweiz AG has implemented the concept."

Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid

When compared to the fuel cell buses which were tested from 2003 within the framework of the CUTE and HyFLEET:CUTE projects, the new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid boasts fundamental innovations: hybridisation with energy recovery and storage in lithium-ion batteries, high-performance electric motors with 120 kW continuous power in the wheel hubs, electrified PTO units and further developed fuel cells. These will achieve an increased durability of at least five years or 12,000 operating hours. The fuel cell stacks of the new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid are identical to those of the Mercedes‑Benz B‑Class F‑CELL with a fuel cell drive system. Both stacks are located on the vehicle's roof as was the case with earlier fuel cell buses. The lithium-ion batteries which, for example, store recovered power during braking are a new addition to the roof. The power provided by the energy reservoir means that the new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid can travel several kilometres using only battery-electric power. In principle, the concept of the new FuelCELL bus correlates with the Mercedes‑Benz BlueTec Hybrid buses. A diesel generator still provides these with the necessary electric energy. In contrast, on the new FuelCELL buses, it is the fuel cells which generate electrical current for the drive motors which boast zero-emissions.

Thanks to the improved fuel cell components and the hybridisation with lithium-ion batteries, the new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid saves 50 percent hydrogen in comparison to the previous generation. As a result the number of tanks has been reduced from the nine necessary for the previously tested fuel cell buses to seven and a total of 35 kg of hydrogen. The range of the fuel cell buses is greater than 300 kilometres. Thanks to these diverse technical improvements, purely electric omnibuses with fuel cells for energy generation are a definite step closer to being ready for series production.

CHIC project (Clean Hydrogen in European Cities)
The project, financed by the EU and other partners provides for the integration of 26 fuel cell buses into daily regular bus services in five European cities. The project is based on the step-by-step introduction of fuel cell buses with hydrogen drives and aims to set up bus fleets comprising fuel cell vehicles and the necessary infrastructure. In participating in the CHIC project, Daimler buses is drawing on their previous successful participation in the EU-funded CUTE and HyFLEET:CUTE projects between 2003 and 2009. A total of 36 Mercedes‑Benz Citaros with second generation fuel cell drives more than proved their worth for twelve transport operators on three continents.

PostAuto Schweiz AG
PostAuto Schweiz AG employs over 3000 employees and operates around 2100 vehicles, of which one third are Mercedes‑Benz vehicles. The company transports 120 million passengers annually. The three-tone horn and the yellow Postbuses are part of Switzerland's cultural identity. The company was successful in its application to participate in the CHIC project.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

Read More

The 500th Mercedes-Benz Citaro was handed over to PostBus

Don't Copy From This Blog...

Swiss public transport operator PostBus Switzerland AG has taken delivery of its 500th Mercedes-Benz Citaro bus. The milestone vehicle was handed over to Daniel Landolf, Member of the Executive Management at Swiss Post and Head of the Group unit PostBus, by Frank Scherhag and Armin Krieg, CEO and Head of Sales respectively for Mercedes-Benz Buses at EvoBus (Switzerland) AG, at Begnins in the Swiss Canton of Vaud on 4 December 2012.

Mercedes-Benz Citaro – a broad range of variants

From when production began in 1998, the Citaro has shown its versatility as an urban and regional-service bus in a broad range of variants in different lengths and with differing packages of equipment and appointments. The models operated by PostBus vary from the compact Citaro K, at 10.5 metres in length, to the three-axle 18-metre-long Citaro G articulated bus. For those variants where the emphasis is on maximising seating capacity, PostBus also uses the Citaro Low Entry model. Since late 2011, PostBus has been running five Citaro with fuel cell-hybrid drive systems.

Milestone bus

The 500th bus, a Citaro G, bears the distinctive yellow/red livery of PostBus and is equipped with the traditional post horn. It is powered by an eco-friendly OM 457 hLA (260 kW) diesel engine and, with its closed-loop particulate filter, complies with the emissions standards Euro V as well as EEV (Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicle).

The interior of the 3-door Citaro G is designed to be light and attractive. The driver's cockpit is in a cabin unit that keeps it completely separate from the passenger compartment. Temperatures in the cockpit and passenger compartment can be controlled individually from a roof-mounted air conditioning system. Two double TFT monitors inside the bus provide information for passengers.

PostBus – the "yellow class"

PostBus Switzerland carries over 120 million passengers each year. With more than 3300 employees and a fleet of more than 2100 vehicles at its disposal – of which a third are Mercedes-Benz vehicles – PostBus is the leading bus company in Switzerland's public transport network.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

Read More

Budapest receives biggest fleet to date of new Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban bus

Don't Copy From This Blog...

Beginning on May 1, 2013, 159 new-generation Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban buses will be providing comfortable, environmentally compatible passenger transport in the Hungarian capital of Budapest. Daimler Buses landed the major order in early November 2012, and will begin delivering the first urban buses to Budapest in April 2013. The contract is the biggest order to date for the new generation of Mercedes-Benz urban buses. The vehicles were ordered by Hungary’s largest private bus company, VT Transman, which operates both regional and municipal bus lines.

All of the 159 Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban buses comply with the EEV emission standard and will be produced at the two EvoBus plants in Mannheim and Neu-Ulm. The vehicles are being produced by both plants because of the short six-month period between the placing of the order and the delivery of the first buses.

“This major order from Budapest is a big success for us and shows that the new Mercedes-Benz Citaro is the best product on offer as far as our customers are concerned,” says Till Oberwörder, Managing Director of Marketing, Sales & Aftersales at Daimler Buses. “An order of this magnitude is strong proof that our customers are highly satisfied with our buses when it comes to quality, environmental compatibility and reliability.”

The order for a total of 159 urban buses encompasses 80 articulated buses and 79 solo vehicles of the new-generation Mercedes-Benz Citaro. The articulated buses are 18 meters long and have four doors, while the solo vehicles are 12 meters long and have three doors. Thanks to the buses’ low-floor design, elderly and physically challenged people can easily get in and out of the vehicles or use the wheelchair ramp. In addition, the Citaros are fitted with cameras for monitoring the passenger area and the outside of the vehicle. These fuel-efficient, low-emission buses are equipped with the environmentally friendly Mercedes-Benz BlueTec diesel technology and meet the EEV emission standard.

Daimler Buses is the world’s leading manufacturer of buses and bus chassis of over eight tons GVW. In 2011, Daimler Buses employed approximately 17,500 people around the world and sold nearly 40,000 buses and bus chassis. Its product range covers urban and intercity buses as well as travel coaches, and includes everything from minibuses to double-deckers — with different engines and equipment features available for all vehicles. The European bus business is managed by EvoBus GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

Read More

Record Run Buses 2012: bus efficiency test over 20,000 km for the new Euro VI-certified Mercedes-Benz Citaro and Setra ComfortClass 500

Don't Copy From This Blog...

Euro VI emission standards do not have to mean increased fuel consumption. To that end Mercedes-Benz and Setra employ a multitude of countermeasures. As a result of these measures, the new Euro VI-certified Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban regular-service bus and the new Setra ComfortClass 500 touring coach series actually use measurably less fuel than their predecessor models. Now they must prove that fact in the Record Run Buses 2012: between 22 and 26 October 2012 three Citaro buses and two Setra ComfortClass touring coaches will cover a combined distance of some 20,000 kilometres during comparative drives under impartial supervision.

Five buses to operate around the clock for five days straight

Start and finish line for the three Mercedes-Benz Citaros and the two Setras of the ComfortClass is Wiesbaden, the capital of the German state of Hesse, at around noon on 22 October 2012. With the exception of two refuelling stops each day, the five buses will operate around the clock for five days straight.

Three Citaros to run in urban regular service in Wiesbaden

For the urban bus comparison the new Euro VI-certified Mercedes-Benz Citaro will compete as a standard bus with OM 936 h engine and 220 kW (299 hp) against its predecessor. The Euro V Citaro starts in two versions: powered by the OM 906 hLA engine and 210 kW (286 hp) of power and the OM 457 hLA engine (220 kW/299 hp). All Citaros will operate in regular service on the demanding route 17 in Wiesbaden – however, loaded with ballast in place of passengers. The buses will complete about 20 round trips of the 18.6-km route daily; the buses will stop at each bus stop.

Two Setras to complete 1800 km on motorways each day

In the touring coach comparison the Euro VI-certified Setra ComfortClass S 515 HD will compete against its Setra ComfortClass S 415 GT-HD predecessor. The two-axle high-deck touring coaches each measure a little over 12 metres in length. The ComfortClass S 515 HD is powered by the OM 470 engine with 315 kW (428 hp). Its OM 457 LA predecessor in the ComfortClass S 415 GT-HD has the identical power output.

The touring coaches will use Wiesbaden as the starting point for a trip to Leipzig. From there they will make a loop via Erfurt, Schweinfurt, Bayreuth, Dresden to Bautzen and back during daytime. At night they will drive a route that leads from Leipzig via Potsdam to Hamburg and back. The touring coaches will each cover a distance of some 1800 km in 24 hours.

Identical conditions, technology and refuelling stops monitored

Loads, transmissions, final drive ratios as well as tyre brand and tread depth are identical within the respective model series. All buses will have been broken in at the start of the Record Run Buses 2012 with around 10,000 km on the odometer. The buses will be driven by skilled test drivers as well by trainers from Omniplus Ecotraining.

The test vehicles and their operations will be monitored by Dekra, an independent specialist automotive organisation. All components relevant to fuel consumption as well as the fuel tanks will be sealed; all refuelling stops will be monitored. The buses are equipped with instruments for measuring fuel consumption. Any movements can be monitored with the help of the FleetBoard telematics system.

Arrival at the finish line in Wiesbaden after 20,000 km on 26 October 2012

All five buses will cross the finish line of the Record Run Buses 2012 in Wiesbaden around midday on 26 October 2012. By that time the touring coaches will each have covered a distance of some 9000 km, the urban regular-service buses each just shy of 1500 km. All recorded data will be analysed over the weekend that follows and the eagerly awaited results will be announced at a press conference on 29 October 2012.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

Read More

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid wins EBUS Award

Don't Copy From This Blog...

In the fuel cell bus category, the Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid won the EBUS Award, the environmental award for public local transport. Roman Biondi, brand spokesman for Mercedes-Benz buses and EvoBus, and Ulrich Piotrowski, the Market Launch Manager for Mercedes-Benz hybrid and electric buses, accepted the award in Cologne on 28 September 2012 from Professor Ralph Pütz of the Landshut University of Applied Sciences, in the presence of Rainer Bomba, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development.

Under the patronage of Dr. Peter Ramsauer, the Federal Minister for Transport, Building and Urban Development, the Forum for Transport and Logistics was offering the EBUS Award, the environmental award for public local transport, for the first time this year. “The EBUS Award recognises the efforts that have been made up to now to introduce electric buses into public local transport, and is intended as an incentive for everyone to drive forward further innovative developments in this sector”, said Professor Adolf Müller-Hellmann, chairperson of the Forum for Transport and Logistics, in his speech at the award ceremony.

The judges’ verdict

The fit-for-the-future drive concept in the Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid, which comprises the fuel cell, lithium-ion battery and electric motor, enabling the Mercedes-Benz city bus to travel over 300 kilometres without producing any emissions whatsoever, demonstrates that it is a worthy winner of the award. The judges particularly welcomed the use of a fuel cell that had already been deployed in the passenger car segment. Additionally, they said that the 17 Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid units already built emphasised the seriousness with which the development has been driven forward by Daimler Buses.

The FuelCELL concept in the Citaro

Thanks to improved fuel cell components (the fuel cell stacks are now identical to those in the Mercedes-Benz B-Class FCELL with fuel cell drive) and the hybridisation with lithium-ion batteries (27 kW/h), the new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid delivers a 50-percent saving in hydrogen compared with the predecessor generation. As a result, it has been possible to reduce the number of tanks from the total of nine on board the fuel-cell buses deployed in earlier trials to seven, holding 35 kg of hydrogen in all. With the new FuelCELL Hybrid drive system, the fuel cell, as the electricity supplier, is intelligently linked to several components: to the battery, to the electric wheel hub drive and also to the integrated regenerative braking system. An internal combustion engine is now completely superfluous. The range of the fuel cell bus is over 300 kilometres, and the refuelling time is just eight to ten minutes. This means that the Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid can be deployed just as simply and flexibly as today’s diesel vehicles. What is more, the drive system and fuel cell are virtually maintenance-free and very long-lasting. With these diverse technical advances, buses running on electric power alone with fuel cells as energy generators are now a major step closer to production maturity. The Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid opens the way to permanent emissions-free public local transport, making it a key element for future mobility. The use of synergies and the technology transfer from the passenger car to the bus make the fuel cell in the bus both fit for the future, and sustainably economical for the operator.

The EBUS Award, the environmental award for public local transport

The Forum for Transport and Logistics is a joint initiative of the DEVK insurance group and the VDV (Association of German Transport Companies). The EBUS Award is being offered for the first time, and is intended to publicise externally qualitative and innovative solutions in the field of electric buses. As well as the fuel cell buses category won by the Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid, awards were also presented for the categories hybrid buses, battery-driven buses, innovative components for buses with electric drives, operating concepts, instruction, education, and training and marketing measures. Scientific supervision was provided by Professor Dr. Dirk-Uwe Sauer from the Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives at the research university of technology, the RWTH Aachen. It is planned to next offer the environmental award for public local transport in 2014.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

Read More

The Innovative Mercedes-Benz Citaro is "Bus of the Year 2013"

Don't Copy From This Blog...

Its technical innovations have helped it to knock the technical trailblazers of a new era out of the running: in this year's rivalry for title of "Bus of the Year 2013" the new Citaro with Euro VI engine won the overwhelming support of the international jury of experts, way ahead of its competitors, almost all of whom were relying on hybrid technology. The new Citaro is already the first standard-production regular-service bus to include Euro VI technology and continues to extend its competitive advantage. In order to conform with Euro VI, the buses feature a complex emission control system that combines the familiar Mercedes-Benz SCR technology comprising AdBlue injection and an oxidation catalytic converter with an exhaust gas recirculation system and a closed-loop particulate filter. A completely new generation of engines in conjunction with this complex emission control system takes emissions to the very margins of detectability, thus representing a further step in the ongoing development of diesel technology.

"Our prime concern when developing the new Citaro was that we should be able to match economy and efficiency with corresponding gains in performance, safety and comfort", emphasised Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses. The beating heart of this "economic miracle" from Mercedes-Benz is represented by the newly developed BlueEfficiency Power engine series, consisting of the six-cylinder in-line units OM 936 with a displacement of 7.7 litres and OM 470 with a displacement of 10.7 litres. Both engines meet the Euro VI emission standard as a matter of course and are characterised by their durability together with their low consumption of fuel, oil and AdBlue. Such technical innovations have, however, neither increased the weight of the Citaro nor reduced its spaciousness. Also helping it to make economic savings is an innovative 24 volt recuperation module: energy produced without any expense by the alternator during overrun phases is stored in double-layer capacitors, known as supercaps, which the bus can then use as an additional source of energy during the acceleration phase. The lower boarding height at the rear doors also helps to reduce energy consumption. Overall, the Citaro achieves fuel savings of between three and five percent. Given normal usage, this corresponds to a good 1000 litres of diesel or 2.6 tonnes of CO2 per year. Maintenance of the diesel particulate filters now only needs to be undertaken every two years or after every 120,000 kilometres.

A further factor in the new Citaro's success as "Bus of the Year 2013" is its attractive and distinctive design. To accommodate the new engines, the engineers developed a new rear frame, which makes the vehicle 30 millimetres longer. The decorative facing to the domed rear end of the Citaro gives the bus a particularly dynamic profile, but neither the turning circle nor the overall height of the vehicle is affected by these modifications. An elegantly rounded, glass panel above the rear window further enhances the classy look of the new Citaro. The engine flap and rear light clusters have also been redesigned. Energy-saving and long-life LED units have been used for the tail lamps, brake lamps and indicators.

And of course the Citaro scored extremely well in terms of safety. It includes a new crash element to protect the driver in the event of a collision, while the bus was designed overall with consideration to the future ECE R 66/01 standard, which specifies a larger survival space for the interior in the event of the bus tipping over. Although this is not due to come into effect until 2017, passengers as well as the company are already able to enjoy the benefit of this extra level of safety. It has also been possible to make numerous elements of the bodyshell lighter and yet even stronger. Furthermore, the new Citaro is the first regular-service bus ever to feature ESP.

Passenger comfort was another area that saw the "Bus of the Year" jury vote for the Citaro. Seen on the approach to a bus stop, the bus already looks inviting: the entry and exit areas at each door are brightly lit with a broad LED lighting band. This friendly lighting concept continues in the interior, ensuring a welcoming atmosphere. With the roof vent flaps acting as reflectors, the ceiling lights convey the effect of indirect lighting. Additional lighting elements have been used to create discrete quiet areas and reading corners while, at the same time, the good level of illumination in the rear section of the vehicle helps to reduce the risk of vandalism. The new design of the horizontal grab rails means that they can be used both for the integration of additional lighting elements and for interchangeable advertising inserts or even scrolling text, thus opening up whole new possibilities for companies to generate additional income through advertising.

The Citaro driver can be sure of enjoying a freshly designed workspace that sets new standards in terms of ease of use, ergonomics, instrumentation and comfort. The door to the driver's cab is hinged at the rear and opens from the front, so ensuring direct access from the front door to the driver's seat and vice versa. The stowage facilities in the door have been improved and now offer a larger compartment for the driver's bag as well as a section for a drinks bottle. The partition to the driver's working area is larger than before and features a wider forward curvature.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

Read More

Hybrid bus fleet for Münster's public transport service

Don't Copy From This Blog...

Münster in Westphalia, which, since 2004, can boast the title of the world's most liveable city, officially inaugurated its first hybrid bus line on 27 August 2012. With the ceremonial handover of two Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid vehicles to the Münster municipal transport service, represented by its manager of Münster’s public transport company Eckhard Schläfke, by Mr Ulrich Piotrowski, responsible for the market launch of hybrid and electric buses at Mercedes-Benz, the Westphalian city once again made good on its pledge to contribute to climate protection through the introduction of new bus technology. Münster is the largest city in Germany without a railbound municipal transport system. Since the closure of its tram system in 1954 and of trolley bus operations in 1968, the city's public transport system has operated exclusively using environmentally friendly buses.

Use on high-demand routes

The new hybrid buses are to be used primarily on high-demand and high-frequency routes, including a route running directly through the city centre across one of Münster's main tourist attractions, the Prinzipalmarkt. This is where the advantages of sustainable hybrid technology will be most apparent. Electrically driven and without a diesel engine, the new Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid vehicles will glide almost noiselessly through the city's historic centre . The varied topography of Münster, the historic old city and the high utilisation of the transport routes all offer ideal conditions to reap the benefits of advanced hybrid technology.

Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid

The Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid is the only hybrid bus to date that can cover sections of routes entirely on electric power without the help of its diesel engine and run virtually silently between stops. After halting at a stop, the hybrid bus moves on to the following stops in just the same smooth, silent way, without the usual hum from the engine. The drive power is provided by four electric wheel hub motors that draw their power from one of the world's largest lithium-ion batteries ever used in a mobile application. This power is regenerated from braking and, if required, can also be produced by a generator driven by a diesel engine that is relatively small for the vehicle class. Experts call this type of system a series hybrid drive.

High-Tec in a proven vehicle concept

This technologically sophisticated diesel-electric hybrid concept has been implemented in the proven articulated variant of the world's most successful city bus series, the Mercedes-Benz Citaro. From the outside, the hybrid Citaro looks just like a conventional diesel bus, apart from the slightly higher roof structure needed to accommodate the battery unit. The difference, however, becomes apparent once the bus starts moving. The driving characteristics of the Citaro are governed by four electric motors that accelerate the 18 metre bus extremely quickly and in almost total silence. Since there are no gears, passengers do not experience the jerking you have in vehicles with manual gearboxes. The wheel hub motors deliver a combined drive output of 320 kW, which is supplied as required by the battery or the generator running off the diesel engine. These electric motors are also used during braking, when they act as generators, converting brake energy into electric power for the battery. If the battery needs additional electricity, the diesel engine starts up automatically to generate more current. The combustion engine in the hybrid is only half the size of the engine in a standard diesel bus, weighing just 450 kg compared to 1000 kg, and with a displacement of 4.8 litres compared to 12. At 160 kW, the engine's output is roughly a third less.

A lithium-ion battery is used in the Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid for energy storage. The battery system delivers a maximum of 240 kW and is relatively light, weighing under 350 kg. Compared to conventional battery systems, the ion technology battery has an impressive higher energy density, combined with a high storage capacity and a low own weight.

Bus environmental protection concept

Bus transportation in the city forms an important part of Münster's environmental protection concept. Although travelling by bus by itself contributes greatly to climate protection, the vehicles themselves are designed to satisfy the strictest environmental requirements. The current fleet of articulated buses already easily meet the strict Euro V emission standard. With the addition of the two Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid vehicles, the city's transport authority is keeping its promise to engage intensively with new technologies in the hybrid and electric vehicle fields.

Each year, over 35 million passengers use the city's public transport services. The public transport system operates 24 bus routes with a vehicle fleet of 174 buses.
New vehicle purchases such as the current hybrid fleet are, in line with the general policy of the Münster public services authorities, built on the principle of sustainability. Through the creation of an appealing public transport system, the municipal transport service is making a viable contribution to the environmental, economic and socially sustainable development of the city. Its high service frequency and modern bus fleet that meets the strictest environmental standards are some of the reasons why Münster's public transport system regularly features near the top of the league table in Germany-wide Emnid surveys.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

Read More

Singapore transit operator places major order for 450 Mercedes-Benz city buses

Don't Copy From This Blog...

The Mercedes star will soon be seen more often in the city-state of Singapore. Daimler Buses has once again received a major order from the Southeast Asian country and will begin delivering the first of a total of 450 Citaro buses there in fall 2012. Plans call for the deliveries to be completed by the end of 2015. The vehicles were ordered by Singapore’s SBS Transit, which is responsible for most of the local public transportation in the city of over five million inhabitants.

SBS Transit placed an initial order for 300 Mercedes-Benz Citaro back in April 2011; the last of these buses are currently being delivered. Similar to the initial order, , these additional 450 Mercedes-Benz Citaro city buses --, also meet the Euro 5 emission standard. All the buses will be manufactured at the EvoBus plant in Mannheim for use on Singapore’s roads. The new order is the biggest Asian order ever for Citaro buses. The Citaro is the most successful city bus of all time, with more than 33,000 units produced over a period of around 13 years. In May 2012, the first series-production Citaro to meet the Euro VI emissions standard left the production line at the EvoBus plant in Mannheim. The new Citaro is the cleanest regular-service bus with diesel engine.

Commenting on the second major order for Citaro by SBS, the Head of Daimler Buses, Hartmut Schick said: “SBS has ordered a total of 750 Citaro buses. An order as large as the most recent one offers strong proof that our buses deliver outstanding quality, as well as great environmental compatibility and reliability. We’re very proud to be able to play such a key role in the local public transport system of one of the most important major cities in Asia.”

The vehicles are first-generation Mercedes-Benz Citaro low-floor buses with two doors and a length of 12 meters. Thanks to the buses’ low-floor design, elderly and physically handicapped people can easily get in and out of the vehicles or use the wheelchair ramp. Each bus has 13 priority seats for elderly or handicapped passengers. Due to Singapore’s humid tropical climate, all of the vehicles are also equipped with powerful air conditioners. In addition, the Citaros are fitted with closed-circuit cameras for monitoring the passenger area and the outside of the vehicle. These fuel-efficient, low-emission buses are equipped with the environmentally friendly Mercedes-Benz BlueTec diesel technology and meet the Euro 5 emission standard.

Says Gan Juay Kiat, Chief Executive Officer of SBS Transit: "Our passengers are highly satisfied with the high level of comfort the Mercedes-Benz buses are offering. For SBS as a company the Citaro has not only proven its reliability but also its environmental soundness and its cost efficiency. So the Citaro was the natural choice when we opted for the further renewal of our bus fleet.”

SBS Transit operates more than 250 bus lines in Singapore and has a total fleet of around 3,000 buses. The company thus accounts for 75 percent of all bus services in the city, including feeder, express, and premium routes.

Daimler Buses is the world’s leading manufacturer of buses and bus chassis of over eight tons GVW. In 2011, Daimler Buses employed approximately 17,500 people around the world and sold nearly 40,000 buses and bus chassis. Its product range covers urban and intercity buses as well as travel coaches, and includes everything from minibuses to double-deckers — with different engines and equipment features available for all vehicles. The European bus business is managed by EvoBus GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

Read More

Customers take delivery of first series production Citaro buses meeting the Euro VI emission standard

Don't Copy From This Blog...

Wiesbaden-based ESWE has today taken delivery of a Mercedes-Benz Citaro meeting the future Euro VI emission standard in a handover ceremony attended by Dr. Helmut Müller, Lord Mayor of the provincial capital of Wiesbaden. A further two vehicles are due to be delivered in the next few days. These are the first series production buses to go into operation featuring the clean technology.
Emission control system comprising SCR technology plus exhaust gas recirculation

In order to meet Euro VI, the buses feature a sophisticated emission control system: this combines the customary Mercedes-Benz SCR technology comprising AdBlue injection and oxidizing catalytic converter with exhaust gas recirculation and a closed particulate filter. Comprehensive design measures have helped to ensure that the buses do not weigh any more despite the additional equipment, and contrary to initial assumptions both the fuel consumption and therefore the CO2 emissions have even been reduced.

Citaro Euro VI: a milestone in bus development

Application of Euro VI will not become compulsory for the Citaro until 2014 - making advance fulfilment of the standard by the first series production regular service bus by the middle of 2012 all the more remarkable. According to Uwe Cramer, Chairman of the Board of ESWE: "We take our responsibility towards both people and the environment extremely seriously. Buses meeting the highest possible emission standard play a significant role in this."

According to Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses: "As far as we are concerned, it's not a case of only striving for environmental protection when the lawmakers force us to do so. We provide our customers with the best possible emission control. Taking on this challenge is of course part of the pioneering role played by Mercedes-Benz."

Clean, powerful and economical engines

The vehicles being delivered are articulated buses from the Mercedes-Benz Citaro G model series. The clean, powerful and economical OM 470 engines are part of the latest Mercedes-Benz engine generation and produce 265 kW (360 hp). The latest-generation Voith DIWA.6 automatic transmissions have also been tuned to meet Euro VI.

Passengers are able to board the buses via three electrically-operated inward folding doors. Other on-board equipment includes an air conditioning system for the passenger compartment as well as a separate air conditioning system for the driver's area.

Intensive cooperation for more than 90 years

ESWE Verkehrsgesellschaft based in Wiesbaden, the state capital of Hesse, has a history dating back more than 130 years including the experience of its predecessor company. The company has relied on Mercedes-Benz buses for a number of years now. The cooperation began some 90 years ago with the first regular service buses in Wiesbaden. Today the company's own fleet comprises around 200 buses. Since 2008, regular service buses meeting what was previously the highest EEV emission standard have been purchased - all of them from Mercedes-Benz. Two-thirds of the regular service buses are now star-branded models.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

Read More

Test track in Wiesbaden: an urban challenge for the Mercedes-Benz Citaro Euro VI

Don't Copy From This Blog...

Clean, responsive, comfortable and user-friendly. Introducing the Mercedes-Benz Citaro with new drive technology that meets the Euro VI emissions standard. And has already made a superb impression on demanding routes today.

Three doors, impressive lighting – the new Citaro

The optional pivot-and-slide doors open within seconds to welcome both driver and passengers aboard. An LED light strip illuminates the step, while another light strip in the door frame overhead highlights the entire entrance – the new Citaro certainly makes it easy for passengers, extending an invitation to hop on board.

Driver’s area upgraded with new door locking system

A new optional feature for the Citaro is the electromagnetic locking system for the door to the driver’s cab, activated via a button in the cockpit. In the test bus, a partition extending across half the width of the door creates distance from the passengers, yet doesn’t prevent direct contact.
The driver’s area itself is by now well-known: plenty of space with enough storage options for everything from the driver’s bag to the chilled compartment, to the pen and mug holders. Anyone driving the Citaro also benefits from a cockpit that is comfortable, modern and well-laid-out.

The buttons are exactly where they should be, the four-spoke steering wheel with multifunctional buttons is a comfortable fit. High-quality materials have been used, evident in everything from the pleasant feel of the cockpit cover to the chrome ring of the round air vents. Any driver who takes to the helm of this bestselling bus can expect a first-class working environment.

The new OM 936 located in the rear of rigid bus

Not much more than a subtle rumble can be heard from behind when the new in-line six-cylinder OM 936 engine starts up, one that meets the Euro VI standard with a 7.7 l displacement, 220 kW (299 horsepower) power output and 1 200 Nm torque. In the test vehicle, it has been installed upright in a tower construction. Immediately above this is the radiator. With automatic transmission set to “D” and the parking brake released, the Citaro leaves the ESWE bus depot in Wiesbaden’s Gartenfeldstrasse in the centre of the city, not far from the main train station.

A challenge for any omnibus: Wiesbaden


ESWE is a company that has been closely linked to Mercedes-Benz for many years now. The first transit buses appeared in Wiesbaden as far back as 1922, from a predecessor of the current Daimler AG. Whether during the changeover from trams to buses in 1929 or today: vehicles from Mercedes-Benz have always taken centre stage.

The state capital of Hesse really sets a challenge for buses and their drivers. Wiesbaden may be situated in a wide lowland, yet there are significant height differences to be overcome within the city’s confines. This includes the several kilometres of bus routes 4 and 14 which run parallel to each other, connecting the city centre with the densely populated district of Wiesbaden-Biebrich on the Rhine. This popular duo is the perfect test route for the Citaro and its new Euro IV-compliant drive train.

Straight as a die: Biebricher Allee

The Citaro crosses the Bahnhofsplatz only a few hundred metres from the bus depot, before turning left onto Biebricher Allee and filtering into the flow of traffic on ESWE lines 4 and 14. After reaching just the first stop on Fischerstrasse, the route continues as straight as a die with an increasingly uphill gradient – no easy task.

The distances between the bus stops on Biebricher Allee are short, with additional stops factored in due to traffic lights. Hard work for an urban bus, however a seemingly easy task for the Citaro. Even at half-throttle, the bus moves gently yet purposefully forward, seamlessly merging with the rest of the traffic on the wide avenue. The new compact Euro VI engine with 7.7 l displacement confidently accelerates forward every time.

Powerful acceleration and low engine speeds on gradients

The 6-speed automatic transmission shifts up under these circumstances by 1 250 rpm at the latest, even earlier at less, resulting in extremely low acceleration speeds of around 800 to 900 rpm. The compact engine performs effortlessly, really showing its mettle when faced with an uphill challenge. Proving to have plenty of power even below 1 000 rpm, this is a vehicle boasting peak performance.

The route along Biebricher Allee certainly sets the bar high: kerbs are raised kerbs at the bus stops and bevelled to protect tyres. Tactile lines on the pavement safely guide visually impaired passengers to the front of the bus, while the surrounding road surface has been reinforced to ensure there is no damage caused by the continuous flow of these heavy vehicles.

Turnover is high: the buses travelling along routes 4 and 14 are ten minutes apart during the day, with a bus at the stop every five minutes on average. Due to the high number of passengers commuting, only articulated buses are used – primarily the Mercedes-Benz Citaro.

Transmission shifts up very early on downhill stretches

The route peaks after around a kilometre. It gets easier for the Citaro from this point on, rolling down in the direction of Wiesbaden-Biebrich. Halfway there is the Landesdenkmal stop: to the right an obelisk and a statue commemorating Duke Adolf of Nassau (later the Grand Duke of Luxembourg) and, on the opposite side of the avenue, the large sparkling wine cellar and visitor attraction.

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro keeps on going however. On downhill stretches, its shift points are extremely low at only around 1 000 rpm. Acceleration speeds reach around 800 rpm. And despite this, the drive train operates almost without vibration. The bus then traverses the A66 motorway, connecting Wiesbaden to Frankfurt and Rüdesheim.

The route divides after the stop Herzogsplatz, taking the one-way street Strasse der Republik and then Rathausstrasse into the heart of the densely populated district of Wiesbaden-Biebrich. Business and residential buildings to the left and right, rows of snugly parked cars, as well as plenty of pedestrians – a challenge easily managed by the driver from his spacious Citaro cab.

Typical Citaro feature is and remains its manoeuvrability

Almost 4.5 kilometres into the journey, the banks of the Rhine are in sight. The bus lines separate here, with the Citaro veering right along route number 14. The right-angled approach to Rheingaustrasse requires special attention, calling on the articulated bus to use two lanes when turning, generally advised as a safety precaution. The driver of the Citaro has no problems making a clean turn here thanks to the vehicle’s small turning radius and superb view.

Approximately 300 metres later, passengers on the right-hand side of the bus have the opportunity to admire the Baroque Biebrich Palace. Once the residence of the Nassau dynasty, today it is used for events such as state government receptions. It is also poses as the civil registry office, providing the perfect backdrop to romantic wedding photos. Over the Whitsun holiday period each year, the international equestrian elite meet in the palace gardens to take part in Wiesbaden’s “Pfingstturnier” tournament. The Citaro follows its own course on a daily basis, travelling from stop to stop along Rheingaustrasse with its fancy villas.

The Citaro urban bus: smooth chassis, quiet drive

After just a few hundred metres, the bus turns right onto Albert-Schweitzer-Allee. Here, on the flat, the shift points are between 1 000 and 1 200 rpm when accelerating, at 50 km/h the Citaro conserves fuel and remains quiet with 1 000 rpm.

On this slightly uneven surface, both driver and passengers also benefit from the chassis and suspension set-up of the bus. The front axle with independent wheel suspension absorbs any inconsistencies in the road surface and prevents any disruption to the Citaro’s steering capability.

The new engine masters the uphill challenge

Another kilometre into the journey and the route leads along the Äppelallee back to Herzogsplatz and Biebricher Allee. Then uphill to Wiesbaden city centre, a real test for the Citaro with several stops and traffic lights along the 1.5 km stretch of slope.

Despite acceleration at full throttle, the engine remains quiet and discreet. It is the passengers to the rear of the bus who benefit in particular from the smooth running characteristics of the in-line six-cylinder engine with common-rail injection, from the low engine speeds and sophisticated noise insulation.

Anyone travelling at night will notice the new unique ambient lighting in the passenger compartment, available as an optional extra. Additional lamps above the double seats beam either orange or white light, while LED reading lamps can be individually adjusted. A level of comfort almost on a par with coach travel and even greater safety to boot. Another impressive feature of the Citaro is the blue night light.

Efficient retarder decelerates almost to a standstill

The influence of the retarder certainly becomes apparent on the descent into the city: if the bus is equipped with a pitman arm for the third brake, skilled drivers can almost bring the vehicle to a standstill when required.

During this part of the route, the automatic transmission switches up a gear up again with around 1 000 rpm when accelerating - it doesn’t get much resourceful than this!

The test course once again diverts from bus routes 4 and 14 at the main train station, heading back to the ESWE bus depot in Wiesbaden. 10.5 km have been completed in around 40 minutes and 24 bus stops reached. With its new Euro IV-compliant drive train, the Citaro has completed the course with flying colours, powerful acceleration and low-noise operation.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

Read More

Press trial drive for the Citaro Euro VI: The test vehicles in detail

Don't Copy From This Blog...

Mercedes-Benz Citaro rigid bus: the test vehicle in detail

- Drivetrain: clean, powerful and economical

- Safety: ESP, bi-xenon lights and much more besides

- Functionality: driver and service-friendly

- Comfort: enhancements for driver and passengers

The Citaro sets the standard for environmental awareness, economy, safety and comfort, and as a test vehicle it reveals the major contribution that state-of-the-art, superb-quality buses can make to urban public transport today. The three-door rigid bus with vertically mounted engine offers a unique mix of features, from compliance with the Euro VI exhaust emissions standard to the ESP electronic stability program.

Drivetrain: clean, powerful and economical

This Citaro is powered with the new OM 936 in-line six-cylinder engine with displacement of 7.7 litres, a power rating of 220 kW (299 hp) and a maximum torque of 1200 Nm. It already meets the Euro VI exhaust emissions standard. Power is transferred by the ZF Ecolife six-speed automatic transmission system. The highest-torque engine is an ideal match for the standard rear axle ratio of i=5.77. This is almost ten percent longer than in the Citaro with the previous engine, which lowers engine speed and therefore fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and noise levels.

Recuperation module saves fuel

The outstanding fuel economy of the new Citaro will be based on the recuperation module (24 volts). The process for achieving fuel savings in the regular-service bus is as follows: the free electricity generated during the overrun phase is stored and used to operate the vehicle’s electrical accessories. This reduces the load on the drivetrain and lowers fuel consumption.

The energy storage function is performed by “supercaps”, double-layer capacitors with a power rating of 6 kW and a capacitance of 1 Ah. This process alone reduces the Citaro’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by more than two percent.

Safety: ESP, bi-xenon lights and much more besides

The Citaro also offers an exemplary level of safety. The vehicle is fitted with the ESP electronic stability program, the only low-floor bus to have this feature. The ESP package also includes acceleration skid control. The Citaro chassis combines attributes of comfort and safety, with individual wheel suspension on the front axle, anti-roll bars on both axles, and electronically operated level control. The integrated roll-and-pitch control system (another equipment option) limits bodywork movements while the vehicle is under way and increases passenger comfort. By enhancing the distribution of the vehicle load, it also reduces the stress on the carriageway surface.
Other unique features of the bus include the lighting system with bi-xenon headlamps, fog lamps with integrated cornering light function and LED daytime running lamps – plus a headlamp wash and wipe system. All-round visibility is also enhanced with electrically operated and heated exterior mirrors and a reversing camera.

The vehicle also has a video system to cater for a rather different aspect of safety: a camera by door 1 monitors the cash register and entrance area, and another placed at door 2 provides surveillance of the passenger compartment to the front and rear of that point. The monitor is a 6.5-inch (16.5-cm) screen with switch controls operated from the driver workstation. The usual interior mirrors also give the driver a view of the passenger compartment. The door into the driver’s compartment closes flush with the front end partition, and has an electromagnetic locking system. The partition screen extends over half the door width, creating a sense of separation and distance, and also contributing to an even temperature in the driver’s cab.

LED entrance lights are placed under the hem section at all three doors to help passengers boarding the vehicle in dark conditions.

And if the worst should happen, along with the fire alarm system provided as standard equipment, there is an automatic fire extinguisher system fitted in the engine compartment.

Functionality: driver and service-friendly

Functionality is a key priority in the test vehicle. The segmented side panelling with easily replaced components simplifies repairs of minor damage. Electrically operated pivot-and-slide doors at all three entrances open and close rapidly, and remain securely shut when closed. The electrically operated cassette ramp under the vehicle floor at door 2 provides easier access for scooter and wheelchair users, and also for prams. The driver’s life is also made easier by the sensors placed on the ramp step mat and detection devices on the step edge. A strip of yellow blinking LED lamps on the front edge of the ramp and LED light strips under all the door entrances illuminate the road surface and make boarding the bus easier and safer. The roof hatches are electrically operated.

Comfort: enhancements for driver and passengers

The comfort story starts in the driver’s workstation at the front left of the bus, which is air-conditioned and fitted with a refrigeration box, mug holder and several stowage compartments.
The seating in the passenger compartment comprises the highly functional City Star Eco seats, manufactured in-house, a folding seat with a wheelchair parking surface in the priority area opposite door 2. The cushions and backs of the seats are upholstered in “La Plata” fabric. The passenger compartment is air-conditioned with blower heaters, a roof-top air-conditioning unit and an additional heater device. A new feature is ambient lighting, based on power-saving, long-life LED technology, above each row of seats and the standing section. The anthracite-coloured needle felt inside wall side panelling adds a touch of home comfort, and also helps to damp noise levels.

Visual appearance: brilliant silver finish

The Citaro is painted metallic brilliant silver, and the same finish is used on the bumpers and mounted parts such as the air-conditioning system cover panel, turbo roof fans and backs of the outside mirrors.

The test Mercedes-Benz Citaro vehicle - key equipment:

- OM 936 engine, power rating 220 kW (299 hp), meets Euro VI exhaust emissions standard
- Recuperation module
- ZF Ecolife automatic transmission
- ESP electronic stability program
- Electronically controlled legal adjustment
- Roll-and-pitch control
- Bi-xenon headlamps
- Fog lamps with integrated cornering light function
- LED daytime running lamps
- LED light strips below door entrances illuminating the road surface or the ground by the bus stop
- Cassette ramp, electrically operated
- Pivot-and-slide doors, electrically operated
- Electrically operated, heated outside mirror
- Video surveillance of interior
- Fire extinguisher system in engine compartment
- Electrically driver cab door, partition screen over half door width
- Refrigerator box in driver’s workstation
- Driver station air conditioning
- Passenger compartment air conditioning
- Electrically operated roof hatches
- City Star Eco seats
- Mobitec destination display
- Gorba passenger information system
- Ambient lighting in passenger compartment
- LED ceiling lights with additional night lighting (blue)
- Needle felt side wall panelling

Mercedes-Benz Citaro G: the test vehicle in detail

- Drivetrain: clean, light and powerful

- Safety: tyre pressure monitoring outside, video cameras inside

- Functionality: outstanding driver and service-friendly characteristics of the Citaro G

- Comfort: enhancements for driver and passengers

The Citaro G is the ideal large-capacity bus for routes with high passenger volumes. With the powerful new OM 470 engine, meeting the Euro VI exhaust emissions standard, the vehicle is even more environmentally friendly and economical, and the level of safety and comfort is also even better than before. The three-door with vertically-mounted engine also provides exemplary functionality.

Drivetrain: clean, light and powerful

The Citaro G is powered by the new in-line six-cylinder OM 470 engine, with 10.7-l displacement, a power rating of 265 kW (360 hp) and maximum torque of 1700 Nm. The engine already meets the Euro VI exhaust emissions standard. In spite of its compact size, the weight-optimised engine of the Citaro G is more powerful than its proven predecessor in all engine speed ranges.

Power is transferred by the ZF Ecolife six-speed automatic transmission system. The final drive ratio of i=6.22 is ideal for the gross vehicle weight rating of 28 tonnes and the extremely high-torque engine. Impressive torque even at low engine speeds ensures excellent acceleration and early upshifts.

Safety: tyre pressure monitoring outside, video cameras inside

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro G chassis provides an outstanding mix of comfort and safety, based on individual wheel suspension on the front axle. Anti-roll bars on the front and rear axles limit roll movements. The electronically controlled articulation limiter and acceleration skid control system ensure active safety in all normal driving situations. An electronically operated level control system keeps the body reliably balanced. Another useful safety function is the new tyre pressure monitoring system, with individual readings for all ten tyres. Maintaining the correct tyre pressure increases service life and reduces fuel consumption.

Powerful halogen-H7 headlamps, fog lamps and LED daytime running lamps ensure the vehicle can “see” and be seen at all times. The generous dimensions of an articulated bus highlight the importance of electrically adjustable and heated outside mirrors.

Given that the driver has only limited ability to keep an eye on the large passenger compartment in the vehicle, the test vehicle is equipped with an extensive video surveillance system. Cameras monitor the cash register and entrance area at door 1, the interior from the cross duct and back from door 2, the rear section back from the articulation point, and the rear section looking forwards. The driver can switch between views as desired on a 6.5-inch (16.5-cm) monitor. The bus also has the familiar inside mirrors and a reversing aid with display on the A-column.

The door into the driver’s cab is electromagnetically locked, and separated from the passenger compartment by a partition screen extending over half the door width.

An automatic fire extinguisher system in the engine compartment reduces any risk of a fire.

Functionality: outstanding driver and service-friendly characteristics of the Citaro G

Passengers board the bus through three pneumatically operated inward-opening doors. A manually operated folding ramp is available for mobility-impaired passengers at door 2.

Functionality is a key consideration in the Citaro G. For example, the instrument panel has two fittings for mounting auxiliary devices. Electrically operated roof hatches are provided as a matter of course, along with an outside loudspeaker system in the test vehicle for the effective communication of messages. The interior lighting is based on economical and long-life LED lights.

Comfort: enhancements for driver and passengers

The transparent accordion section with window openings gives the Citaro G passenger compartment an even more friendly and open look. The same goes for the wood finish on the floor, in “Gaya Wood Dark Brown”. The anthracite-colour needle felt inside wall panelling also adds a touch of home comfort.

The seating in the passenger compartment comprises City Star Eco seats, manufactured in-house, upholstered in La Plata fabric. The test vehicle also has eight back-to-back seats over the middle axle.

In the priority area on the left side at the level of door 2, there is space for a support surface for a wheelchair facing against the direction of travel and a total of three folding seats. The passenger compartment is air-conditioned with blower heaters, a roof-top air-conditioning unit and an auxiliary heater. Along with the roof duct ventilation system, the test vehicle also has ventilation for the articulation area.

The driver’s station is air-conditioned. A refrigerator box, mug holder and several stowage compartments are also provided to the driver’s life easier.

Visual appearance: classy anthracite metallic look

The anthracite metallic paint finish on the articulated bus underpins the vehicle’s superior quality image. The mounted parts are also painted in this colour, except the backs of the mirrors, which are painted grey.

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro G vehicle - key equipment:
- OM 470 engine, power rating 265 kW (360 hp), meets Euro VI exhaust emissions standard
- ZF Ecolife automatic transmission
- Electronic articulation limiter
- Electronic level control
- Halogen H7 headlamps
- Fog lamps
- LED daytime running lamps
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Manually operated folding ramp
- Transparent accordion section
- Inward-opening doors, pneumatically operated
- Electrically operated, heated outside mirror
- Video surveillance of interior
- Fire extinguisher system in the engine compartment
- Driver’s cab door with electrical locking system, partition screen extending over half door width
- Refrigerator box at driver workstation
- Driver workstation air conditioning
- Passenger compartment air conditioning
- Cockpit with fittings for additional devices
- Electrically operated roof hatches
- Ventilation for articulation zone
- City Star Eco seats
- Mobitec destination display
- Gorba passenger information system
- Needle felt side wall panelling

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

Read More