Mercedes-Benz on board electric buses

Mercedes-Benz is getting on board electric buses.

The German automotive company will start volume production of “a modular battery pack” for its Citaro bus “by the end of next year,” electrek reports.

Citaro has its world premiere in September next year at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover.

Prototypes are being tested.
The next step is “endurance testing and detailed refinements” with the goal to have the electric version of the Citaro comparable with the diesel version.

The Citaro Electric is powered by a modular lithium-ion battery pack that can be customised to a different capacity for different applications. It feeds rear axle electric wheel hub motors.
“Our city bus produces zero local emissions and is ultra-quiet through town,” Daimler Buses head Hartmut Schick says.

“As the technical concept, which involves a modular system for the power supply as well as optimised thermal management, makes clear, the Citaro with battery-electric drive will set a new milestone.”

It’s tendering for contracts.
Electric buses are also coming from a variety of other automakers.

That’s partly fuelled by the mayors of 12 cities, including Auckland’s Phil Goff, signing the C40 Fossil-Fuel-Free Streets Declaration pledging to acquire only zero emissions buses from 2025 and to ensure major city areas are zero emission by 2030.