The Mercedes-Benz eCitaro fuel cell is suitable for extra-long routes of up to 400 kilometres. This makes it a seamless replacement for city buses with combustion engines.
Omnibus Magazine
More range without recharging.
The eCitaro fuel cell has a range of around 400 kilometres.
More range without recharging.
The eCitaro fuel cell has a range of around 400 kilometres.
Equipped with a fuel cell as a range extender, the all-electric eCitaro fuel cell is an urban regular-service bus that achieves ranges of around 400 kilometres without recharging. It is available as a solo bus and as an articulated bus. Thus, the eCitaro fuel cell can be used to seamlessly replace city buses with combustion engines. It is also the ideal choice for transport companies that have an existing battery-electric fleet and wish to serve long routes without using additional buses.
Highly efficient generator on board.
The eCitaro fuel cell is based on the battery-electric eCitaro. Like its predecessor, it has high-performance NMC 3 batteries of the latest generation with a capacity of 294 kWh in the solo bus and up to 392 kWh in the articulated bus. The eCitaro fuel cell achieves considerable ranges with this amount of energy alone.
Fuel cell as a range extender.
This range of around 400 km on a single battery charge is achieved by the inclusion of a fuel cell range extender with an output of 60 kW mounted on the roof. The solo bus also has five hydrogen tanks with a total capacity of 25 kilograms positioned on the roof transverse to the direction of travel. The articulated bus has either six or seven tanks with a capacity of 30 or 35 kilograms. These buses have a high passenger capacity – 88 in the solo bus and up to 128 in the articulated bus – due to the optimised weight distribution of batteries and tanks.
“Since electricity from the grid is significantly cheaper than hydrogen, the batteries serve as the main energy source, while the fuel cell is only switched on as required.”
Full tank in ten minutes.
The fuel cell generates electrical power from hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen to supply the bus's electric drive and batteries. Since electricity from the grid is significantly cheaper than hydrogen, the batteries serve as the main energy source, while the fuel cell is switched on as required. Intermediate charging is not required en route thanks to this long range. The batteries are always recharged using a plug at the depot. The hydrogen filler neck is located on the right in the direction of travel above the second axle. Under optimum conditions and depending on the tank infrastructure, the eCitaro fuel cell can be refuelled in around ten minutes.
Economical thermal management.
Smart energy management and thermal management make the eCitaro fuel cell not only locally emission-free and quiet, but also particularly energy efficient. For example, waste heat from the fuel cell is used to heat the passenger compartment and control battery temperature. The combination of a compact air conditioning system with R134a refrigerant and a heat pump makes use of waste heat from the fuel cell and is highly efficient at low temperatures.
Familiar operating concept.
Drivers will find their way around the eCitaro fuel cell right away. The sophisticated suspension, familiar roll/pitch control and acceleration control ensure the usual excellent ride comfort. Operation is virtually identical to that of the combustion engine Citaro and the battery electric eCitaro so drivers can be switched just as quickly. The sole difference between the fuel cell drive concept and the combustion engine (and the only evidence that there is a difference) is the hydrogen fill level display on the instrument panel. The central display allows the driver to call up the range, available power, charge levels and available quantity of hydrogen.
“All components for remote retrieval of vehicle data are already on board ex works.”
New assistance systems.
As with all Mercedes-Benz buses, safety is paramount in the eCitaro fuel cell. For example, all components of the high-voltage and hydrogen system, including the carrier systems for the roof attachments, have had to pass stringent safety tests.
New and further advanced assistance systems in the eCitaro fuel cell support the driver and ensure greater safety and protection for vulnerable road users. For example, the eCitaro fuel cell is equipped as standard with the radar-based Sideguard Assist 2 turning assistant. This uses a new sensor concept to give an even more accurate warning in the event of a risk of collision with pedestrians or cyclists. It is now also provided on the driver’s side. The new Frontguard Assist warns of pedestrians and cyclists at close range in front of the bus.
Preventive Brake Assist 2 is available as an additional safety option. This warns of stationary and moving objects including pedestrians and cyclists and can also initiate a partial braking manoeuvre.
OMNIplus ON digital services.
The eCitaro fuel cell is factory-equipped with all the components required to monitor vehicle functions in real time. For example, fill and charge levels of hydrogen and batteries and the resulting remaining range can be viewed at any time using OMNIplus ON monitor. OMNIplus ON monitor also displays trends and energy consumption optimisation potential in detail. The system distinguishes between energy consumed by the drive and that used by the vehicle's air conditioning system.
Standardised interfaces, such as the new TiGR interface, which is also available for the eCitaro family, also allow vehicle data to be used in fleet management and telematics systems from third-party providers.
