Without having seen it, public transport operators have already placed orders for the new eCitaro G from. In half a dozen towns and cities the eCitaro G will appear later this year as the first deliveries are planned. Also the order book for the solid-state-batteries is filling up with over 60 definite orders for the new Mercedes Benz eCitaro G Solid-state batteries. Mercedes-Benz calls this innovative battery technology, “a pioneering achievement in automotive construction”.
Two years ago Daimler Buses presented the eCitaro, a fully-electric driven solo regular service city bus. The eCitaro G now follows; the first fully-electric driven articulated bus bearing the three-pointed star which, depending on the version, can transport up to 146 passengers. “I am really very pleased that our Mercedes-Benz eCitaro has established itself very well since its market launch. This shows that we are on the right track, offering products that our society wants and that our customers can work with. With the eCitaro as an articulated bus variant, we are consistently continuing the electrification of city buses: the eCitaro G will be equipped with innovative solid state batteries on request. In doing so, we are setting the course for sustainable and efficient passenger transport in urban centers,” says Till Oberwörder, Head of Daimler Buses.
The eCitaro G is being launched with the NMC variant of lithium-ion batteries. Mercedes-Benz will increase the performance of the eCitaro G this year by switching to a new generation of NMC batteries increasing capacity from 292 kWh to up to 396 kWh.
At the same time the eCitaro G is beginning a new chapter with innovative solid-state batteries to store energy. They will be optionally available. Solid-state batteries are characterised by high energy density and a particularly long service life. Chemically speaking these are lithium-polymer batteries. They are known as solid-state batteries because the liquid electrolyte is in solid form. Also raw materials such as cobalt, nickel and manganese are not used for this type of battery. Equipped with seven battery packs, the eCitaro G achieves a remarkable total capacity of 441 kWh and thus guarantees ranges typical of city bus operations. Solid-state batteries are ideal for fast charging whether during breaks between journeys at the depot or along the route.
