• Delivery of 56 Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid buses to local public transport operator Kyma Mobilità in Taranto, Apulia
• Citaro hybrid with separate 48-volt electrical system and “supercaps” hybrid module reduces pollutant emissions and provides clean air in the port city on the Gulf of Taranto in south-east Italy
• Urban sustainability and rejuvenation of the local public transport bus fleet with the Citaro hybrid is regenerating the municipality
• A leap forward in terms of sustainability and quality of local public transport

Leinfelden-Echterdingen/Taranto (Italy) - Kyma Mobilità, the local public transport operator in the port city of Taranto in the south-east Italian region of Apulia, has taken delivery of 56 Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid low-floor city buses. The introduction of the new Citaro hybrid buses from Mercedes-Benz with a length of around twelve metres in the signature red white and blue paintwork of Kyma Mobilità is not only improving the mobility and efficiency of local public transport but also demonstrating the transport operator’s commitment to a more environmentally friendly city and a better quality of life for the residents and visitors to Taranto.

 “For us, this is the most important purchase of new buses in decades,” says Giorgia Gira, President of Kyma Mobilità. "The 56 Citaro hybrid buses are vehicles of the latest generation from Mercedes-Benz, with an equipment that significantly increases the safety and comfort standards for the benefit of our drivers and passengers; with these, our local public transport company has, in less than three years, replaced more than half of its vehicle fleet, which, with an average age of less than five years, is one of the youngest and most environmentally friendly city bus fleets in Italy and offers sustainable mobility to the citizens of Taranto."

Citaro hybrid: high performance, lower consumption and reduced pollutant emissions

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro Hybrid offers an ideal combination of high performance, economy and sustainability. The Citaro hybrid city buses, which have been specially designed for use in conurbations, are powered by a six-cylinder OM 936 h diesel engine with an output of 220 kW (299 hp), a displacement of 7.7 litres and a 6-speed ZF Ecolife 2 automatic transmission. The engine compartment is equipped with an automatic fire warning and extinguishing system.

The compact hybrid energy storage module has been located on the rear of the roof to save space and protect it during accidents. It is virtually maintenance-free. The 14 kW electric motor acts as a generator when braking and decelerating, converting the kinetic energy into electricity. Energy is stored in supercapacitors or “supercaps”, which are characterised by their high power density. The Citaro hybrid has a separate 48-volt electrical system, which uses low-voltage technology and is safe to handle. Auxiliary units are powered conventionally.

The electric motor does not increase the output of the vehicle, but assists the combustion engine in phases of high power demand. The electric drive motor can reduce diesel consumption by up to 8.5 percent. This means lower air pollution and better quality of the urban environment in the Apulian port city on the Gulf of Taranto.

Safe travel in Kyma Mobilità's new Citaro hybrid buses

Kyma Mobilità's new Citaro hybrids have a length of exactly 12.135 metres. With 26 seats and standing room for 81 persons, they offer a high passenger capacity. The middle of the three entrance doors in total is designed as a swing/sliding door to allow fast passenger access. A manually operated wheelchair ramp is available for passengers with restricted mobility, such as wheelchair users or parents with prams. An EvoCool Basic roof-mounted air-conditioning system with an output of 32 kW ensures pleasant temperatures inside.

Safety has top priority at Kyma Mobilità: the driver has an uninterrupted view of everything happening in and around the bus from their seat. A video surveillance system with five cameras in the interior, an external side camera at the passenger entrance, a reversing camera and four cameras at the doors transmit their images in real time. The vehicles are also equipped with two extra cameras for dynamic accident reconstruction and a “red button” that sends alarm signals directly to the Kyma Mobilità’s operations centre. All vehicles are equipped with a satellite positioning system to remain in constant contact with the company's operations centre.

About Kyma Mobilità

Kyma Mobilità is the local public transport operator in the Taranto region, surrounding the second largest Apulian city with a population of around 189,461, as well as the neighbouring towns of Statte and Leporano. The company, which is wholly owned by the city of Taranto, currently has more than 500 employees and a bus fleet of around 200 vehicles. The transport service currently consists of 23 routes with a network length of around 770 km, around 640 km of which serves urban areas and around 130 km suburban traffic. The total annual mileage is almost 8.4 million kilometres.