GERMANY: Almost in parallel with the statutory deadline for the introduction of the Euro 6 emissions standard at the start of 2014, Mercedes-Benz handed over its 1000th Euro 6 Citaro to Ralf Steinmetz, Director of HEAG mobiBus in Darmstadt. It was presented by Ulrich Piotrowski, Head of Sales of the Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach unit in Mannheim. Daimler Buses introduced series production of urban buses featuring Euro 6 in 2012. “Thanks to the early introduction of Euro 6 – long before the competition –
Daimler Buses has been able to extend its market position and win a series of large orders throughout Europe. Such vehicles therefore enable operators to implement environmentally friendly regular services in a cost-effective manner and across broad areas,” explained, Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses.
Daimler has countered the disadvantages originally expected with Euro 6 in terms of fuel consumption by implementing new vehicle and drive system developments. The fuel consumption advantage of the Euro 6 urban bus over its Euro 5 predecessor was revealed to be 8.5% in a spectacular efficiency test conducted in the autumn of 2012 under the impartial supervision of Dekra. Making a contribution to this figure, in addition to the new vehicle concept, are the BlueEfficiency Power engines. There is also the unique recuperation module, which recovers energy in a manner similar to the braking system in hybrid buses. Thanks to the BlueTec Euro 6 technology, in addition to the reduction in CO2 in line with the lower fuel consumption, these buses also boast significantly reduced levels of harmful substances such as particulates and nitrogen oxides.
The Citaro is also the first urban bus available (since 2011) with the Electronic Stability Program ESP on board.
The 1,000th Citaro has an OM 936 BlueEfficiency engine (220 kW) with a ZF EcoLife AP six-speed automatic transmission.
With a staff of around 230 and 120 buses, HEAG transport group operates regular service routes in a variety of regions throughout Southern Hesse – in Darmstadt, in the districts of Darmstadt-Dieburg and Bergstraße, and recently also in the district of Groß-Gerau.
