Mercedes-Benz eCitaro with NMC 3 batteries: The test vehicle in detail

• Remarkable battery capacity for appropriate range
• Unrivaled assistance and safety systems, new: 360° camera system
• Attractive passenger compartment design

Daimler Buses is allowing public transport companies to participate in the rapid development of battery technology for all-electric city buses. The Mercedes-Benz eCitaro with NMC 3 batteries is proof of this. With an energy capacity of almost 500 kWh, it can replace conventionally powered city buses – and is all around attractive for fleets, driving personnel and passengers.

Remarkable battery capacity for appropriate range

Five high-voltage battery packs with a total energy capacity of 490 kWh distributed across the roof (three packs) and the rear (two packs) ensure an appropriate range for the two-door solo bus. It is designed for plug-in charging at the depot and can move to different positions flexibly with charging sockets on both the left and right.

Unrivaled assistance and safety systems, new: 360° camera system

The test vehicle’s cockpit combines functionality with comfort. Instrumentation and operation deliberately differ only insignificantly from the Citaro with a combustion engine, which makes it easier to switch between vehicles quickly. In addition to the brake pedal, the driver can use a five-stage pitman arm in overrun mode to control recuperation and thus the braking effect, similar to a retarder lever in a touring coach.

Safety is always a top priority for Mercedes-Benz. The test bus is equipped with the new 360° camera system that provides significant support to the driving personnel when precise maneuvering is important – at the depot, in the vehicle hall or at bottlenecks along the route. It almost goes without saying that the bus is equipped with the Preventive Brake Assist active brake assistant, the Sideguard Assist cornering assistant and the Tire Pressure Monitoring system (TPM). Safety and support for the driver also mean the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System and the switchable speed limitation to 33 km/h, which makes driving in zones subject to speed limits significantly easier. Depending on the usage profile, the limit can also be set to other speeds.

Attractive passenger compartment design

Passengers take their seats on City Star Eco seating produced in-house. The seat and backrest are upholstered in an uplifting fabric. Red ceiling handrails, ambient lighting with continuous blue light strips above the aisle and windows and a wood-look floor in the low-floor city bus provide a sense of freshness and comfort. The special-purpose area opposite entrance 2 can be used in a variety of ways: There is space for a wheelchair or stroller, and the leaning surface against the direction of travel has a folding seat. In the direction of travel, there are two additional folding seats as an alternative to the standing area. The infotainment system includes a 18.5-inch TFT monitor behind the driver partition wall and a second 29-inch TFT monitor in large format behind the transverse channel. Passengers can charge their mobile devices at 13 double USB sockets.

All of this is enclosed in an anthracite metallic paint finish, including the detachable parts. The result is a highly attractive overall appearance of the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro premiere model with NMC 3 batteries.