M-B Delivers eCitaro Buses

The first fully electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro city buses were handed over Nov. 18 to ESWE Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH in Wiesbaden, Germany. The vehicles are part of a large-scale order for 56 units of the battery-powered city bus which is produced by Mercedes in Mannheim, Germany.

At the official vehicle presentation in front of politicians, members of the press, ESWE employees and interested members of the public, Till Oberwörder, head of Daimler Buses, highlighted the importance of this order for Wiesbaden and Daimler. “Each delivery of one of our fully-electric eCitaro buses is a further step towards sustainable and emission-free public transport,” Oberwörder said. “Our e-buses don’t just make their mark on the current mobility shift, they also simultaneously ensure improved quality of life in our cities.

“We’re also especially pleased that ESWE Verkehr has successively begun replacing its fleet with electric vehicles from Daimler Buses – that’s a major show of trust in our electrically-powered eCitaro and our comprehensive E-mobility system as a whole.”

The delivery schedule of the 56 eCitaro vehicles will see a further seven units delivered to ESWE Verkehr this year. The remaining vehicles are planned for 2020. With their electric-bus switchover plan, ESWE Verkehr and the city of Wiesbaden are moving closer towards achieving their ambitious aim of being the first town in Germany to implement the vision of emission-free public transport. The consultancy team at Daimler Buses eMobility Consulting are assisting ESWE in the conversion of their fleet to electromobility solutions.

The e-buses are powered by Akasol lithium-ion batteries using Samsung SDI cells. Total capacity is approximately 243 kWh, with battery modules placed in the rear and roof of the vehicle. The drivetrain incorporates ZF’s Ave130 electric portal axle with electric motors at the wheel hubs. The peak output of the motors 125 kW each.