New from Daimler Buses at IAA Commercial Vehicles, Hanover in September will be a heavier-duty Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, new safety systems for existing models and additional digitally-based Omniplus aftersales enhancements. However, the headline story remains the public unveiling of eCitaro, the productionised all-electric version of the German manufacturer’s best-selling city bus and, as Andy Izatt reports, they’re all coming to the UK and Ireland
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Daimler Buses gave trade journalists a first look at its all-electric version of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro in Stuttgart in March (CBW 13 March, 2018). What it showed were prototypes of what it described as the first phase of its new zero-emission bus, developed as part of CASE, Daimler Group’s €200m investment in networking, automated driving and electric drives. For the record, CASE stands for Connected, Autonomous, Shared & Services and Electric.
Four months on from Stuttgart, the same journalists have been invited to Mainz near Frankfurt to see the productionised version of the bus. Now branded eCitaro, it has been given a stylish makeover in tune with the manufacturer’s growing e-mobility range from cars through to light commercials and trucks.
The journalists also learned about another three phases in the eCitaro’s future development that its creator believes will future-proof its investment and give customers future planning security.
What in reality is a complex, multifaceted and meticulously thought-through strategy is structured around a very simple proposition. While Daimler has not been first into the electric bus market, it’s making clear that when it publically launches at IAA Commercial Vehicle in Hanover during September, it will offer a complete long-term solution that works – one based on a single overnight charge and with the minimum requirement for expensive supporting infrastructure.
EvoBus (UK) has high hopes for eCitaro sales with good reason. The adoption of electric drive technology is pushing the British bus market more towards heavier duty solutions where the diesel Citaro has been a market leader, and with an add-on cost of two to two and a half times, the electric version becomes more attractive in what is becoming an increasingly congested market.
Right hand-drive product availability is scheduled for 2020, but it’s clear with strong customer interest already, Director Mercedes-Benz Sales, Marcus Watts would like to be able to respond sooner. “Daimler rightly has a very systematic approach when it comes to introducing new products,” he explained. “It doesn’t come to market until it’s sure everything is right. However, the speed of technological change is setting the pace and if we were able to bring the date forward, I know the demand would be there as is funding, notably in London.”
Marcus added that, with an add-on cost of just £8-9,000 over diesel variants, the hybrid Citaro launched last year with significant TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) savings promised, is likely to win quick acceptance amongst established customers. The first for the UK, a demonstrator, will be at Euro Bus Expo and is expected to be much in demand after that.
eCitaro on a timetable
Talking about eCitaro’s introduction, Head of Daimler Buses, Till Oberwörder explained: “We are offering our customers more than just a battery concept, rather a complete eMobility system. Our in-house eMobility Consulting service advises our customers on their journey to electric mobility.”
The focus on the eConsulting expert advice service that Daimler provides starts even before any vehicle purchase is made. Experts analyse each route operated and a simulation programme then calculates the energy requirements for the future electric buses planned. There are precise recommendations and calculations on energy consumption, the infrastructure, and connection power and charging management required.
“We will offer solutions for a sophisticated power supply management of the entire vehicle fleet,” said Gustav Tuschen, Head of Product Engineering Daimler Buses. “It avoids unnecessary performance peaks while charging the buses and therefore reduces investment and electricity costs. At the same time, this allows electric buses to be efficiently pre-conditioned. This reduces their energy consumption and therefore optimises their range.”
He added: “Additional charging stations on the route significantly increase investments and levels of complexity. Wherever possible we want to avoid this and make it as easy as possible for our customers.”
Once in service, Omniplus will be able to provide a comprehensive range of tailored eMobility support packages for eCitaro. Apprenticeships and additional training for qualified technicians will be available at the Dortmund prototype workshop.
The facelift given to eCitaro draws on design themes first seen in 2016 with the Mercedes-Benz Future Bus concept vehicle (CBW, 26 July, 2016). A distinctive grill and front screen taken from the Citaro Ü are complemented by two-tone aluminium roof edge profiles and revised rear styling. However, the vehicle’s frame remains pure Citaro, as are its doors, side windows and panelling. A new lighter saloon ceiling, with LED modules that are designed to create the impression of a lighter surface thanks to reflectors, has been incorporated.
A ‘Combined Charging System’ plug-in Combo 2 connecter is what Daimler Buses’ expects its customers to use for charging. A 243kWh Akasol modular battery pack with Samsung lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide (NMC) cells powers the phase one 12m eCitaro, a vehicle with an unladen weight of around 13.44 tonnes and gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 19.5 tonnes.
Daimler engineers have worked hard to maximise thermal management efficiency because of the impact it can have on the vehicle’s range. Their solution, which incorporates air-conditioning with CO2 refrigerant and a heat pump as well as clever networking of the HVAC system and heat-generating components, has seen the energy requirement for all fall by around 40%.
According to SORT2 (Standardised On-Road Test cycle) results, a phase one eCitaro has a range of around 250km without any extension through opportunity charging. However, that drops to around 150km in the summer when the air-conditioning is drawing power. Low winter temperatures when heating is required have an even greater impact. If temperatures drop to minus 10 degrees Celsius, eCitaro energy consumptions doubles and, ever the realist, Daimler is happy to install a fuel-powered auxiliary heater if that’s what a customer requires.
Daimler estimates that around 30% of routes could be covered by a phase one eCitaro, but with productionisation of the product, range extension will be possible by specifying an opportunity current collector such as a fast charging pantograph or charging rails.
The NMC battery chemistry has an energy density that delivers a high charge current facilitating fast charging.
From 2020 Daimler says it will be possible to cover about 50% of operations with the introduction of the phase two eCitaro which utilises a 35% more powerful 330kWh NMC battery pack. Because of battery technology advances, it will be the same weight and size as what it replaces and will be available as a plug-in replacement for existing customers.
2020 really is a significant year for eCitaro because it will also see the introduction of a phase three product using a solid-state 400kWh lithium-polymer battery pack as an alternative. Supplied by Bolloré Group-owned Blue Solutions, it is light but also more voluminous, so the saloon corner ‘wardrobe’ found in diesel Citaros will be used to provide additional storage.
The solid-state battery has an enhanced energy density further extending range to around 250km to deliver around 70% route coverage. It will also have a 10-year warranty life – twice that of a NMC battery. However, the two battery types are not compatible so would require different charging infrastructure. The solid-state battery is also not suitable for high performance fast charging.
The right-hand drive product scheduled for 2020 introduction will have the 330kWh pack, and that is also when articulated eCitaro G production will start. Marcus, for one, sees real opportunities with the artic bus in the UK, not least because of its efficient people moving capabilities at a time when driver shortages seem to be returning.
Phase four in 2022 will see the introduction of a fuel-cell range extender that would deliver a range of 400km and should bridge the gap to near 100% route coverage. To accelerate its development, Daimler Buses is involved in the German ‘National Innovation Programme – Hydrogen and Fuel-Cell Technology.’
“We do not see electromobility as a threat,” said Martin Daum, Member of the Board of Management at Daimler AG for Trucks & Buses. “We see electrombility as an opportunity to further expand our leading market position. And we are convinced that we have the best prerequisites to deliver the best solutions. Because we have the necessary financial strength, we have the long-standing trust of our customers and we have the global technology expertise that incorporates the experience of a wide variety of products and markets.
“We also have a special advantage in that we cooperate very successfully within our Group. We benefit greatly from the close cooperation with our colleagues on the car side of our business – and, of course, from the close exchange between Trucks and Buses in particular. We are now pooling our global expertise in electric trucks and buses in our new e-mobility group. We use the best ideas from a region or division systematically for all regions and divisions. That gives us advantages in terms of speed, cost and know-how.”
Bigger Sprinter
As well as eCitaro, the coachbuilt City75 low-entry minibus based on a 6.8-tonne upgrade of the 5.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis cowl will debut at IAA, Hanover and will also be exhibited on the EvoBus (UK) stand at Euro Bus Expo. While the show vehicle will be two-door and left-hand drive, Marcus anticipates single-door, right-hand drive availability will be from the end of the first quarter of 2019. The smaller City45 will continue to be offered in the UK.
Powered by a 2.1-litre OM651 163bhp engine driving through a 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox, the 8.5m-long City75 takes the number of left-hand and right-hand drive passenger carrying minibus/coach variants produced by the Dortmund minibus factory to more than 20. The City75, which has a 5.1m extended wheelbase, has a 5t-rated rear axle that delivers a carrying capacity of up to 38 passengers. The UK specification hasn’t been finalised, but maximum seating is likely to be around 22-24 with an offside emergency door in the low-floor area where seats on tracking can be mounted.
A gently ramped entrance area creates a step height of 270mm, so there is no requirement for a pneumatic or air system to lower and raise the suspension. A manual ramp is specified. Standard safety systems include Crosswind Assist, Active Brake Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist.
Based on the latest updated Sprinter which has a high level of connectivity, there are a range of refinements for the driver including the MBUX multimedia system developed for the Daimler car range. It has a large 10.25-inch screen and switches are neatly arranged in a row above. The 6.8-tonne Sprinter chassis cowl will not be made available to third party bodybuilders and converters.
Safety and digitisation
From 2019 Active Brake Assist 4 (ABA4), the first brake assist system to detect pedestrians, will become standard equipment on all Daimler touring coaches. It has been standard on the Mercedes-Benz Tourismo since the spring.
Preventative Brake Assist, which deliberately doesn’t have the full braking effect of ABA4 so is more suited to city bus applications, and Sideguard Assist, the first assistance system to warn of pedestrians, cyclists and stationary obstacles when a vehicle is turning, will be available in all Citaro variants from 2019. Sideguard Assist is also an option on the Tourismo.
The latest digital services developed by Daimler are bundled in a user friendly way on the internet portal, Omniplus On, to enable operators to maximise their fleet availability. Omniplus Uptime, available from quarter four this year, continuously monitors relevant vehicle systems through the onboard Bus Data Center in real-time. The data is analysed and interpreted by utilising a programme developed in conjunction with Mercedes-Benz Trucks. Omniplus 24h Service warns operators of impending major technical malfunctions and advises on how to prevent them. Available since January, Omniplus On monitor combines telematics for efficient fleet management and encouraging better driving styles while Omniplus On drive, which comes online in the autumn, focuses on communication between driver and operator and helps with aspects such as the driver’s walk round check.
Upbeat message
Marcus Watts is looking forward to what Daimler will be presenting at IAA, Hanover and Euro Bus Expo. “We’re having continuing success with the new Tourismo in the UK and Ireland,” he added. “The 13m two-axle M2 with either 53 or 57 seats accounts for around half of our sales. We’re ahead of our targets for the year. I think that’s because Tourismo continues to exceed customer expectations despite the coach market being down overall thanks to uncertainties created by Brexit and the ULEZ in London. For us, it’s all about emphasising the TCO benefits to customers.
“In the UK the Citaro has a loyal customer base in a number of niche markets – particularly ones where there’s a need for a robust product that can carry passenger volumes. With the introduction of low and zero emission zones, the eCitaro will be a strong contender, not least because of its capacity to stand up to rigorous operation.”
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