Switching to a bus with hydrogen technology has never been so easy. There is no difference for drivers and passengers. Would you like some examples? The tried-and-tested cockpit on the Citaro is largely unchanged in the eCitaro fuel cell. Driving comfort remains outstanding thanks to electrohydraulic steering and roll and pitch control. The passenger compartment offers the same spaciousness and typical comfort. And the exemplary Citaro safety equipment with many innovative assistance systems such as the standard turning assistant Sideguard Assist 2, Frontguard Assist and the optional braking assistant Preventive Brake Assist 2 is also installed in the eCitaro fuel cell.

Depot charging management also offers you the same attractive options found on the eCitaro: for example, the option of having two eCitaro fuel cells charged sequentially, i.e. one after the other, at a charger with two charging points. This avoids charging peaks, saves on infrastructure costs and still gives you the operational flexibility you need. Another typical feature of the eCitaro is the simple digital networking of vehicles with your control centre's management system. On request, the OMNIplus ON portal provides you with a real-time view of the key operating data for your fleet. And just like for your eCitaro, electromobility experts from Mercedes-Benz offer tailor-made overall system solutions for the eCitaro fuel cell – from operational planning to hydrogen charging infrastructure.

Fuel cells are considered a solution for fully electrically powered city buses when very long ranges are required. This is because they generate electricity from hydrogen and air while driving and only emit water. But green hydrogen is expensive. With the eCitaro fuel cell, Mercedes-Benz kept an eye on costs from the very beginning. That’s why the eCitaro uses NMC3 batteries as the main energy source for its powerful drive system. The compact fuel cell is solely for extending the range.

Only tried-and-tested components are used for the innovative drive system: the fuel cell of the eCitaro fuel cell comes from Toyota and is already in its second generation. Its flat design makes it ideal for mounting on the roof of the eCitaro. The heavy-duty unit has a maximum output of 60 kW, but in normal operation it operates highly efficiently with a maximum of approx. 20 kW. This results in a comparatively low hydrogen consumption in relation to the power it generates. On the solo bus, the fuel cell module weighing around 240 kilograms is mounted on the roof just behind the front axle; on the articulated bus, it is mounted at the front on the roof of the rear section. The carbon fibre reinforced polymer hydrogen tanks, each with a capacity of five kilograms, are also on the roof. All battery and hydrogen components have successfully passed extensive tests and safety tests.

The solo bus has five hydrogen tanks with a total capacity of 25 kilograms. There are also three battery packs with a total capacity of 294 kWh. In the articulated bus, the modular system enables a range of battery and hydrogen tank combinations – thereby the suitable configuration for every requirement. The articulated bus is equipped with either six or seven hydrogen tanks and three or four battery packs with a maximum energy capacity of 392 kWh. The hydrogen system in both models is designed for a pressure of 350 bar– unlike 700 bar systems, the expenditure and costs are significantly lower here, especially at the pump.

* The range was determined under specific conditions, including equipment with maximum battery capacity and H2 capacity, battery in delivery condition, in typical city bus operation and moderate weather scenario and may deviate from the values determined in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/2400, for example. The actual range depends on the individual use of the vehicle, the vehicle configuration and other external factors. Therefore, the actual range may be below or above the specified value.