• Ten of 57 Citaro hybrid vehicles handed over
• Hybrid vehicles for greater economic efficiency in the fleet
• Vehicle equipment offers a combination of safety and comfort
  
  

Mannheim / Weilburg – Medenbach Traffic GmbH took today possession of the first ten of 57 Mercedes-Benz scheduled-service buses with hybrid drive at the Mannheim bus plant. The overall order is made up of 39 Citaro hybrid inter-city buses, 13 Citaro hybrid articulated buses and five Citaro hybrid buses in the short Citaro K version. The symbolic key was received by Medenbach Managing Directors Timo Medenbach, Medenbach Traffic GmbH, from Sinisa Ristic, Sales Mercedes-Benz Buses.

Economic efficiency meets performance – safety combined with passenger comfort

When the 57 Citaro hybrid vehicles are used for their first scheduled service mid-December this year, each vehicle will be significantly more economical than its purely diesel-powered counterpart. The mild hybrid drive – with a 14 kW electric motor at its core – reduces fuel consumption by up to 8.5 percent by supporting the combustion engine when pulling away. It generates the necessary electrical energy itself when coasting or braking. The electric motor can provide support with a powerful 220 Nm of torque when pulling away. The hybrid system of the vehicles also includes “intelligent eco steering” – the electrohydraulic steering system equipped as standard. This steering system operates as required and is only activated when the driver performs steering movements. This additionally saves fuel.

All Mercedes-Benz buses have a safety package in accordance with the GSR (General Safety Regulation) guidelines. This includes a reversing camera as well as numerous assistance systems such as ATAS (Attention Assist), Traffic Sign Assist and Sideguard Assist 2, which in the current version also monitors the driver’s side of the vehicle. A video surveillance system for the interior, including the entrance and door areas, rounds off the safety package.

Passengers can enjoy a comfortable interior. The interior destination displays are fitted with 18.5-inch TFT monitors, while Medenbach has chosen LED technology for the external direction displays for better legibility. In addition, all new Citaro hybrid buses are equipped with the comfortable Inter Star Eco (ISE) inter-city seating. This seat variant from Mercedes-Benz is specially designed for longer journey times in the vehicle. Thanks to their ergonomically shaped seat cushions, the seats are extremely comfortable. Two separately controllable air conditioning systems ensure pleasant temperatures in the passenger area and driver’s workplace.

About Medenbach

The Medenbach family business is based in Weilburg, Central Hesse, and was founded in 1935 as a pure goods freight company. The introduction of the first regular bus route from Weilburg to Wetzlar in 1951 laid the foundations for today’s Medenbach Traffic GmbH. 

The bus company currently operates bus routes in the Limburg-Weilburg and Lahn-Dill districts. The fleet comprises around 110 vehicles, including the 57 new Citaro hybrids. The company covers more than four million kilometres of bus routes annually with its vehicles, and around 180 employees at three locations ensure that every kilometre of the routes is driven with a focus on passenger satisfaction.