We sum up the entire history of the model in this article, taking in the consideration market reception, tenders, deliveries, production strategy and everything relevant that involve the Mercedes-made electric bus.

Mercedes eCitaro, the launch in 2018

Officially launched in September 2018, Mercedes eCitaro series production started a couple of months later and between the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 the first deliveries were put in place.

At the 31st December 2019, therefore after the first year of production, 149 units of Mercedes eCitaro have been registered. In 2019, with 149 registration, Mercedes put its mark on a market share of the 5 per cent in the field of e-buses. As mentioned above, that figure grew significantly: as many as 333 eCitaro were delivered from January to December 2021. German market shifted to high gears: the Mercedes eCitaro has been the top sold electric bus in 2022 in the country.

Mercedes eCitaro, the first order? From Hamburg

It was May 2018, before the official launch of the model, when Hamburger Hochbahn placed the very first order for the Mercedes eCitaro (at that time the eCitaro was a Citaro model with camouflage on the roof, nothing to do with the front that will be definitive on the battery-bus). The public transport company, that plans to procure emission-free buses only from 2020, has placed an order for 20 units. 

Mercedes eCitaro ordered in Berlin

In June 2018, in view of the rising deployment of electric commercial vehicles, Daimler Trucks announced the establishment of a global organization for e-mobility. “We are the undisputed global leader of the trucking industry and we intend to remain in that position with electric trucks and buses» stated Martin Daum, member of the Daimler Board of Management for Trucks and Buses.

At that time Daimler Truck & Bueses portfolio of fully-electric commercial vehicles inclued two e-trucks from Freightliner, the Mercedes-Benz eActros, the FUSO eCanter, the fully-electric Mercedes eCitaro city bus and the Thomas Built Saf-T Liner C2 Jouley school bus.

In the same month of June 2018 BVG Berlin finalized an order (the second, after Hamburg) for 15 fully electric Mercedes eCitaro. The order was the result of the first tender for e-buses issued by the transport company, won by Mercedes for 15 units and by Solaris, with its Urbino 12 electric, for the other 15.

July 2018, the premiere of the Mercedes eCitaro

Then, in July 2018, it was the time for the presentation to the press of the Mercedes eCitaro (world premiere will be at IAA 2018).

With the eCitaro Mercedes was finally taking the step from low-emission bus (a definition that can match the Citaro mild hybrid) to locally emission-free bus. A clever definition that stresses a crucial point: the electric bus produces no pollution from the tailpipe, but its “cleanliness” depends on how the electricity is produced.
Coming back to the eCitaro, the drive system is provided by the electric portal axle ZF AxTrax, with electric motors at the wheel hubs. The peak output of the motors is 2 x 125 kW.

With regards to batteries, Mercedes opted for a modular concept. The maximum of energy that can be stored on board is 292 kWh split in 12 modules, half in the rear and half on the roof (six modules are the standard).

With ten battery modules, the all-electric Citaro weighs around 13.44 tonnes. In conjunction with a gross vehicle weight rating of 19.5 tonnes, this corresponds to a payload of more than six tonnes or around 88 passengers  (15 less than the conventional diesel solobus).

Energy efficiency of the Mercedes eCitaro is based on a unique thermal management system. It reduces energy consumption, therefore increasing operating range. An energy-saving heat pump is used to warm the passenger compartment, for example.

A roadmap for the Mercedes eCitaro

The new Mercedes eCitaro was announced to be the kick-off for an innovation initiative with a clear strategy aimed at the electrification of urban public transport.

Daimler claimed to be sure that the eCitaro will be able to replace city buses powered by a combustion engine nearly completely in just a few years. At the beginning, with a maximum battery capacity of 243 kWh of NMC batteries (the possibility to reach 292 kWh was later announced), the electric bus already covers, according to Daimler, about 30 percent of all requirements of the transport operators.

Since the development of battery technology is progressing at a rapid pace, the eCitaro is already designed to be transitioned to the future battery technology, was ensured by Mercedes. The next generation of the eCitaro will be able to cover, from 2020 (then changed in 2021), around 50 percent of all applications, thanks to the second generation of NMC batteries. Then the so called solid-state batteries are expected to be introduced. With a rated battery capacity of about 400 kWh in the solo bus and even more in the articulated bus, the eCitaro will then meet about 70 percent of all requirements without opportunity charging.

Order from Mannheim, deliveries in Berlin

Series production of the Mercedes eCitaro started at the end of 2018. The third order for the Mercedes eCitaro, again in the domestic market, was secured by the operator Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr which operates in Mannheim and Heidelberg, very close to the plant where the cCitaro (together with the ICE Citaro) is built. It was announced in January 2019.

In March 2019 the first eCitaro for BVG reached their destination. The eCitaro electric bus units ordered by BVG are characterised by their extensive equipment, Daimler points out. Passengers benefit from an air conditioning system, 15 double USB ports for their own end devices and three monitors for information provided during the journey.

Passengers with reduced mobility have at their disposal generously dimensioned areas for wheelchairs and pushchairs, as well as tactile handrails with ribbed handle profiles on the doors or the contrast-rich interior design. Bus drivers can take advantage of the exterior camera for keeping an eye on cyclists and pedestrians. Interior surveillance cameras and a door-closing warning system with red LED light strip and video surveillance provide for added safety.

Wiesbaden gets 56 e-buses

«It is the largest order so far for the battery electric bus by Mercedes»: this was the incipit of the article we published on April 10th 2019 following an order for as many as 56 eCitaro from the public transport company ESWE Verkehrsgesellschaft of Wiesbaden (Germany’s Hesse region). 41 of them, according to the statements then released, will be equipped with solid state batteries.

Mercedes won’t just deliver electric buses to ESWE: it will also takes care of the adaptation of the service yard, the equipment and setting up of charging infrastructure (provided by Heliox). With this commission, the city of Wiesbaden is switching a fifth of its bus fleet to electromobility within a short period of time. Deliveries began in November 2019. In early February 2021 as many as 21 e-buses were delivered: they stand out for being the very first eCitaro with solid-state batteries ever rolled out.

Mercedes eCitaro, fuel cell range extender on the horizon

In May 2019 Daimler announced that by 2021 the Mercedes eCitaro will be able to carry 330 kWh battery capacity, thus covering about 50 percent of all applications. Then, also solid-state batteries will become available. The fuel cell range extender will be the ice on the cake. In fact, the range of the eCitaro will be increased yet again by a range extender in the form of a fuel cell for generating electricity. It will be designed to allow the eCitaro to fulfil nearly 100 percent of all requirements on city buses.

This technology eliminates the need for intermediate charging and the complex infrastructure required for it in almost all cases: the eCitaro will be able to replace combustion engine-powered city buses virtually one to one, Daimler claims.

More information on this topic were released in September 2019, when it was disclosed the news that Hamburg will be the first city to test the Mercedes eCitaro with such technology. The public transport company Hamburger Hochbahn is expected to purchase 530 electric buses between 2021 and 2025. Also hydrogen applications will be in the spotlight. Starting in 2021, the operator will be field-testing the new vehicle, in the articulated version. Two units will be involved in the pilot.

The first orders from abroad

But the deployment of the eCitaro is not exclusively happening within the borders of Germany.

In summer 2019 the battery-electric bus approached foreign markets, following a batch of three orders from Luxembourg, Sweden and Norway.

The basic version of the 20 Mercedes eCitaro models from the three orders varies greatly, the manufacturer points out. What the buses have in common, however, is the high-quality equipment and double glazing, the electrically operated pivot-and-slide doors, comfortable Inter Star Eco seating for intercity operations and USB sockets for charging mobile devices.

Voyages Emile Weber, in Luxembourg, has chosen nine two-door eCitaro buses. These are equipped with the maximum number of twelve high-voltage battery packs delivering a total capacity of 292 kWh. Besides the extensive equipment, the colour concept of the passenger compartment is also very striking. From the upholstery of the seats to the grab bars or the side-wall panelling in needle felt: everything is in red. The floor covering has a homely wooden look.

Hanover to get 48 eCitaro

A new, large, German contract was concluded by Daimler Buses in August 2019. ÜSTRA, public transport provider in Hanover, signed a framework agreement for 48 units of the fully electric Mercedes city bus. The agreement is for 30 12 meter buses and 18 eCitaro G articulated buses. First vehicles were spotted in the city in January 2020.

Mercedes eCitaro wins Sustainable Bus Award 2020

October 2019 was time for the Busworld to debut in Brussels. Of course the eCitaro was among the vehicles in the spotlight ad Daimler Buses’ stand. And the Busworld 2019 was also the stage for the delivery of Sustainable Bus Award 2020. Guess which vehicle was elected as Sustainable Urban Bus? Yes, you got it: the Mercedes eCitaro. Here is the motivation:

«The Mercedes-Benz eCitaro battery electric bus wins the Sustainable Bus Award 2020 in the Urban category because today it represents the best compromise between sustainability, comfort and safety.

Daimler Buses has also been the only manufacturer, to date, to declare a range that actually corresponds to that registered by the bus in real condition operations. Also, noticeably, Daimler Buses has stated that the current eCitaro is the starting point for future technological steps.

The current Mercedes-Benz eCitaro features lithium-ion batteries for a maximum capacity of 292 kWh, that ensure a range of around 170 km in city operations (SORT 2). The eCitaro will be available with 330 kWh batteries by 2021. And a further step has already been scheduled, namely the use of solid state batteries. Also a fuel cell range extender will be implemented».

Again in Germany, Reutlinger Stadtverkehr (RSV) took delivery of four vehicles on 29th November 2019. Buses that will be recovered in a completely new and purpose-built electric bus depot. And in the same period ASEAG, transit operator in Aachen, rolled out 7 Mercedes battery electric buses, and up to further 20 units are coming.

Environmental label for the Mercedes eCitaro

In February 2020 the Mercedes eCitaro has deserved the “Blue Angel” environmental label. What is more, it’s the first fully-electric city bus entitled to bear this label, that will be displayed on the three vehicles in delivery in Jena for Jenaer Nahverkehr. The company operates local public transport in the Thuringian university city, with a fleet including 43 city buses on 13 routes. The three eCitaro models form the foundation for the first electric bus fleet in Thuringia.

Mercedes eCitaro G: it came in 2020

2020 has been the year of the launch of Mercedes eCitaro in articulated version. Namely: eCitaro G. The debut of the new version of the Mannheim-made battery-electric bus in 2020 has been scheduled by Daimler Buses ‘electric’ roadmap since the launch of the 12-meter eCitaro. Even though we could guess that the Coronavirus outbreak, with following shutdown of operations in many plants, could lead to a delay.

The Mercedes eCitaro G, with a lenght of 18.13 meters, will be able to carry up to 145 passengers (136 with the biggest battery equipment, made of 12 modules) on a continuous low floor where up to 45 seats can be placed.

The body of the vehicle is based on the Citaro G with combustion engine, and the roof is based on the Citaro G NGT with integrated heavy-duty rails, Daimler Buses points out. It’ll be available in 3-doors and 4-doors versions. Both the door positions and the layout of the passenger compartment correspond to the Citaro G with combustion engine, is specified by Daimler Buses.

Only zero emission buses by Daimler by 2030

Daimler Buses aims to offer zero emission vehicles in every segment by 2030 (both battery and hydrogen-powered). Starting in 2023, the Mercedes eCitaro will be also equipped with a hydrogen-based fuel cell as a range extender. The first full electric intercity bus will be launched in 2025.

The fuel cell of the eCitaro Range Extender comes from Toyota and is in its second generation. It is a heavy-duty unit with a maximum output of 60 kW.

Daimler Buses states it is not investing in Euro VII in Class I buses and forecasts a share of 75% of e-buses in public transport in the EU by 2030. It was announced by the manufacturer in May 2022.

Mercedes eCitaro with IVU software

What is interesting, since spring 2022 public transport operators can now acquire the electric bus Mercedes eCitaro and software from a single source, on request, thanks to a partnership between the bus builder and IVU Traffic Technologies. A current example of this is BSAG Bremen, where the delivery package includes the charging infrastructure and a charging management system. The e-bus together with software solutions from IVU becomes an eSystem.

The first tender awarded in Italy

July 2022 saw Daimler Truck winning the first tender in Italy with the eCitaro. 16 vehicles (13 with a length of 12 meters, and 3 articulated) will be in operation in the province of Trento. Signature of the contract is expected by 30/09/2022; the supply should begin within 400 consecutive days from the signature. Daimler Truck made offer together with Enel X, that will take care of charging infrastructure.

60 eCitaro in Vienna

In late 2022 Daimler Buses gained a significant order from Vienna. By the end of 2025, Wiener Linien will convert nine of its 127 routes to operation with the battery-electric bus by Mercedes. In fact, the operator has ordered 60 eCitaro. They are set to be delivered from 2023 until 2025. In summer 2022 Austrian government announced an investment of 122 million euros to support the procurement of 289 electric buses.

Mercedes eCitaro in 2023. Also in rural operations

Year 2023 saw Daimler Buses receiving a new order for 46 vehicles from Nuremberg, in the domestic market. What is interesting, a German company (VLP) has taken charge of the last 15 vehicles of a large order consisting of a total of 45 Mercedes eCitaro mainly used in regional transport.

UITP Summit 2023: Mercedes eCitaro fuel cell

Big news were launched in early 2023. The fuel cell version saw the light at the UITP Summit in Barcelona. It offers a stated range of approximately 350 kilometers without the need for recharging. This goes together a passenger capacity, on the articulated version, of up to 128 passengers. T

he difference between the eCitaro fuel cell project and most of the fuel cell buses on the market stay in the battery capacity: while it’s common to feature a small LTO battery (below 50 kWh) accompanying the fuel cell module, the eCitaro is equipped with a battery capacity similar to its battery-electric counterpart (up to 392 kWh for the 18-meter).

The eCitaro fuel cell utilizes a battery-electric drive system with high-performance batteries NMC3 (also launched in 2023), while the fuel cell acts as a hydrogen generator to extend the range.

First order for the vehicles dates back to October 2022. Daimler Buses turned to Toyota as fuel cell module provider.

Major orders intake in 2023

A major order for 70 electric articulated buses was landed in April 2023 by STIB in Brussels. They are set to be delivered from 2024. 250 units will be in operation in Hamburg for VHH in the framework of the largest e-bus tender in the operator’s history to date: VHH has indeed awarded MAN Truck & Bus and Daimler Buses two framework agreements for 100 and 250 e-buses respectively. Also UK entered the spotlight of Daimler Buses.

In late 2023 Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr received the first Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro articulated buses from series production with a fuel cell as a range extender.

But among the largest orders for the eCitaro secured in 2023, the one in The Hague stands out. 95 Mercedes eCitaro will be in operation in the city. These electric buses will replace HTM’s current natural gas buses by mid-2024, aligning with HTM’s commitment to sustainable public transport in The Hague region.

Mercedes eCitaro on its way to be produced also in France

The same year 2023 saw Daimler Buses achieving the milestone of 1,000 eCitaro units produced. In the future, the model will be produced also in France, at their plant in Ligny-en-Barrois, France. This move is part of the group’s investment of approximately 50 million euros by 2030 to expand the production of electric buses at the French location. The conversion and modernization of the plant are expected to create 250 additional jobs. However, Mannheim will remain the electromobility hub of the group.

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LAUSD anticipates delivery of the first buses in October 2024 and for the order to be fulfilled in early 2025.

The bus manufacturer has recently delivered its 1,500th electric school bus and celebrated the grand opening of its Electric Vehicle (EV) Build-up Center in Georgia, which will enable the company to increase its long-term production capacity to 5,000 electric school buses a year. Blue Bird’s zero-emission school buses are powered by the electric PowerDrive 7000 system from Accelera by Cummins, which is a result of their long-standing collaboration on technology innovation.

Blue Bird electric school buses for Los Angeles

LAUSD already operates 26 Blue Bird electric school buses in its fleet. Moving forward, the school bus manufacturer will provide 30 Vision and 150 All American electric buses to significantly enlarge the districts’ zero-emission school bus fleet.

Both model vehicles have a range of up to 130 miles on a single charge, according to the manufacturer. Based on LAUSD’s future charging infrastructure, the buses could take between three and eight hours to recharge fully.

Blue Bird stresses that its electric buses come standard with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability. This bi-directional charging technology will allow LAUSD to potentially sell excess energy stored in school bus batteries back to electric power companies at a profit. In addition, V2G programs help balance demands on the grid and improve grid resiliency.

“Los Angeles Unified is excited to move toward the electrification of our Sun Valley Bus Yard school buses,” said Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “We must fully commit ourselves to creating a model of sustainability that benefits our students, our school communities and generations to come.”

“Blue Bird is recognized as the technology leader and innovator of all-electric school buses. We are thrilled to provide safe, reliable, and – above all – clean student transportation to the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the nation,” said Phil Horlock, CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “Demand for low- and zero-emission school buses remains strong across the United States. Blue Bird will continue to meet and exceed our customer expectations.”

“LAUSD is making a monumental leap forward by committing to an all-electric future and providing a model for other school districts of how a transition of this size can take place,” said John Landherr, President & CEO of A-Z Bus Sales. “We’re proud to have helped LAUSD over the years transition from diesel to alternative fuel CNG and propane buses, and as the No. 1 dealer in electric school buses nationwide, our team is positioned to now support the district at all levels with their EV transition.”

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The manufacturer has also won 153 e-buses in Milan and 225 in Turin.

The contract, signed today 17th January 2024, is worth more than 300 million euros. The tender comprises not only the new electric buses, measuring either 12 or 18 metres in length, but also a 10-year full-service maintenance plan for each.

Iveco Bus to deliver +400 e-buses in Rome

The delivery of the first batch of 110 e-buses will start in the last quarter of 2024 with all remaining buses to be delivered by April 2026.

Both 12-m and 18-m long vehicles will be equipped with the latest NMC battery technology with a single-unit capacity of 69.3 kWh. This energy storage package is assembled at the new FPT Industrial battery plant (e-plant) in Turin. The vehicles, which feature the manufacturer’s latest ADAS devices, will comply with the GSR (General Safety Regulation).

The full-service maintenance will be performed by Romana Diesel, Iveco’s Dealer covering the Lazio region and one of the manufacturer’s biggest official dealers in Europe. Romana Diesel employs 350 people and will deliver service support at its workshop and on-site, to ensure full vehicle availability for the customer and passengers for the entire duration of the contract.

Domenico Nucera, President, Bus Business Unit, Iveco Group, stated: “We are extremely proud to be a key contributor to Rome’s transition towards greener and more efficient mobility. Our increasingly strong offering in the field of electric passenger transport is being recognised across the entire Italian market, and internationally as well, confirming our position as a leading partner. Extending this to the capital of Italy, the ‘Eternal City’, is a fitting way to begin 2024, after closing a very satisfying year in terms of orders for Iveco Bus”.

Giorgio Zino, Head of IVECO BUS Europe Commercial Operations said: “We are extremely proud that ATAC Rome have placed their trust in us with this impressive order. Our E-Way buses benefit from state-of-the-art solutions to provide drivers and passengers with a comfortable and emission-free journey. This new success in Italy confirms that our E-WAY solution perfectly meets the decarbonization expectations of Italian public transport.”

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A £82.5 million project will deliver 159 battery buses onto the streets of Oxford – the first of which have already gone into service, Go-Ahead states.

Go-Ahead had just been celebrating 10 years of electric bus operation in London: the company operates 520 zero emission buses on behalf of TfL and expects to increase this number to 1,000 by the end of 2026 – account for almost half the company’s fleet. According to plans, Go-Ahead’s entire fleet of 5,000 UK buses will be converted to zero emission vehicles by 2035. It’s just one of the pillars of the company’s strategy to reach carbon neutrality by 2045.

At the moment the company is investigating investigating causes of a e-bus fire in Wimbledon, London. The fleet has been removed from service “as a precaution”.

A partnership behind future Oxford electric bus fleet

It has been funded via a collaboration between Oxfordshire County Council, Go-Ahead’s Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach. The Council was awarded £32.8M from the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme and contributed £6M directly, while bus operators invested £43.7M.

Oxford Bus Company (belonging to Go-Ahead) will deliver 104 electric buses into service and Stagecoach 55. In preparation for launch, Oxford Bus Company has electrified its Cowley House depot, turning it into one of the biggest electric bus charging stations in Britain – with each charging point providing enough electricity for buses to drive up to 200 miles per day.

Matt Carney, CEO of The Go-Ahead Group’s bus division, said: “Go-Ahead is proud to be the largest operator of zero emission buses in Britain. Electric buses make an enormous difference to air quality in cities and by decarbonising our fleet in towns and cities across the country, we aim to make a positive contribution to the fight against climate change. These new buses in Oxford will form Go-Ahead’s biggest fleet of zero emission buses outside London. The project is an example of bus operators working closely with local authorities to deliver for communities”.

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “This is a historic moment in our journey towards transforming our city services to electric. Our first tranche of electric buses is now in service, and are already starting to improve air quality and make bus travel an even more attractive option for people to travel around Oxford. Decarbonising buses is an exciting project – and we have demonstrated that with the right strategic partnership working between the public and private sector, we can unlock investment to make it happen. We look forward to working with Oxfordshire County Council on important initiatives going forward to encourage people to travel by bus.”

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The information have been reported on an extensive article on the latest issue of the Belgian-Dutch Magazine Personenvervoer (web versions of the platform: www.pvmagazine.nl or www.pvmagazine.be) by Geert Van Lierde and Herman Welter starting at pag. 11. At the time of going to press the e-bus overview was the only research in the numbers of e-buses in Belgium (data up to December 12th 2023).

Belgium is on a mission to achieve a sustainable and emission-free public transport system by 2035. While the Netherlands is making substantial progress, with 35% emission-free buses already in operation, Belgium’s public transport companies, STIB (Brussels), De Lijn (Flanders), and Le TEC (Wallonia), still have work to do to catch up, the article states.

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LATAM is a fast moving market when it comes to deployment of zero emission buses. 25,000 e-buses are expected to be on Latin American roads by 2030 (and 55,000 by 2030). In late 2023, electric buses constituted 4.5% of the total bus fleet in the 32 cities under examination in the new study “Pipeline of Electric Bus Projects in Latin America“, commissioned by C40 in conjunction with the Clean Transport Finance Academy 2023. In July 2023 Bloomberg reported that European Commission officials would be developing a plan to provide electric buses to Latin American countries in exchange for access to lithium supplies.

BYD electric buses for Mexico City Line 4

The buses will be put into operation on Mexico City’s Line 4, a route 35 kilometers long, dotted with 40 stations. The line will meet the daily commuting needs of about 120,000 passengers every day.

The BYD electric buses delivered are 15 meters long, with a low floor; they have a maximum capacity of 130 passengers, a stated range of 200 kilometers, a battery capacity of 300 kWh, and a charging time of three hours.

Dr. Martí Batres Guadarrama, Head of Government of Mexico City; Andrés Lajous Loeza, Secretary of Mobility of Mexico City; Rosario Castro Escorcia, General Director of the Mexico City Metrobús; Alberto Adib Carrera, Institutional Promotion Executive of Nacional Financiera, Adrián Escamilla, CCA Executive Director, Airport Center Corridor, Rafael Burgos, Director of Enel X, and Ray Zou, Country Manager of BYD Mexico, attended the delivery ceremony.

Rosario Castro Escorcia, General Director of the Mexico City Metrobús, said, “Zero-emission, sustainable solutions for transportation operations are essential. Since 2018, we have been working on transportation technology reforms, and this partnership with BYD is an important expression of the transition to electrification of Mexico’s public transportation system.”

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Bari is indeed going to receive 99 electric buses from CRRC, following the tender awarded to YES EU, dealer of Yutong in the Nordics. The state-owned CRRC is a giant in the railway sector and is already active in Europe through the partnership with Hungarian Ikarus. Financed through funds from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, the project has a budget of €42,768,000 plus VAT. It’s unclear which model will be provided, if the E12 or the latest add U12, but it’s most likely it’ll be the first one.

Taranto, another city in Southern Italy, in the same Puglia region as Bari, will receive 45 electric buses and 67 plug-in charging stations, valued at €33.3 million. The buses will be provided by BYD, that has just landed a 92-units order in Belgium from De Lijn.

Errata corrige: a first version of this article mentioned Yutong as winner of the tender in Bari, instead of the brand effectively bidded by YES EU (so far known for the dealership of Yutong e-buses in the Nordics)

Bari, the tender requirements

The specifications for the electric buses tendered in Bari emphasize accessibility, sustainability, and passenger comfort. The buses, ranging from 11.50 to 13 meters, must meet specific width and height limits, accommodating a minimum of 70 passengers, including seating for at least 20 and provisions for a wheelchair user.

The structural framework must be steel, aluminum, or equivalent materials, ensuring weldability and corrosion resistance. The modular design of the chassis allows partial replacements as needed, contributing to the longevity and sustainability of the fleet.

The electric buses must achieve a daily range of 185 km between recharges Additionally, the buses must integrate an HVAC system for passenger and driver comfort, operating solely on battery power, eliminating the need for auxiliary fuel.

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The order represents an investment of more than 43 million euro.

“This order confirms that De Lijn is firmly on track with the electrification of its fleet,” says director-general Ann Schoubs. “Our target is to offer our clients fully emission-free public transport by 2035.” 

In order to reach that target, De Lijn needs to replace its entire bus fleet and to electrify some 50 depots.

92 BYD electric buses for De Lijn

This order of 92 standard e-buses (length: 12 m) follows the awarding by De Lijn’s board of a new framework agreement consisting of a maximum of 500 12 m e-buses to BYD Europe.

De Lijn states that they “will decide at a later stage which framework agreement(s) it will continue ordering from. The Flemish operator may order on the 2021 framework agreement, that was awarded to Van Hool and VDL, and/or on this new framework agreement”.

“Manufactured in Komarom, Hungary, these electric buses will be delivered from early 2025 onwards,” says De Lijn director-general Ann Schoubs. “They will include our typical customer-friendly equipment, such as USB charging points, an electric ramp for less mobile clients, extra wide information screens on board, LED lighting and seats with recycled leather. Our drivers’ safety and comfort is also being taken care of.”

“This order of 992 electric buses is excellent news for De Lijn’s customers and for the environment and climate,” says Flemish minister for Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters. “In practice, this means that De Lijn will be replacing old generation diesel buses with emission-free buses. We are pleased that De Lijn has succeeded in utilising all investment resources for fleet renewal that were made available by the Flemish government for 2023.”

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The buses are scheduled to commence service in 2025 and will operate in the Potsdam area.

Ebusco buses for Verkehrsbetrieb Potsdam

The 12-metre buses will feature a low floor, three doors, and will be powered by a battery pack exceeding 350 kWh, Ebusco states. In addition, the 18-metre buses will be equipped with four doors and a battery pack surpassing 500 kWh. Each bus will be equipped with a pantograph, setting them apart from any other Ebusco 3.0 bus.

ViP manages a fleet of 59 buses and transports over 30 million passengers annually. Stadtwerke Potsdam and ViP have committed to a gradual reduction of the 5,000 tons of CO2 emissions resulting from bus transportation, with the goal of achieving emission-free operation by 2031. To accomplish this goal, the first step has been taken by placing this order of 23 Ebusco 3.0 buses.

Ebusco and ViP have together shaped an infrastructure based on pantograph charging. Therefore, this will be the first time Ebusco will apply a pantograph to the 3.0 model. Although this is a debut for the Ebusco 3.0 model, the pantograph itself is a well-known concept that has already been successfully implemented on many Ebusco 2.2 models for several years.

Patrick Oosterveld, Sales Director of Ebusco comments: “Ebusco has consistently played an important role in facilitating the initial adoption of electric buses. We are thrilled to continue contributing our wealth of knowledge and experience, playing a significant part in the successful implementation of electric buses. Through collaborative efforts with ViP, we’ve devised a solution that seamlessly enables their transition to an all-electric operation, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact of this transition.”

Bettina Biffi and Uwe Loeschmann, Managing Directors of Verkehrsbetrieb Potsdam, comments: “This first order represents a significant step on our way to an emission-free fleet. The order for 23 electric buses is our targeted step towards continuing to offer environmentally friendly public transport in Potsdam and keeping up with the latest technological developments. We look forward to continuing this collaboration with Ebusco in the coming years and working together towards our sustainability goals.”

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In Madrid, EMT is going to receive 20 low-entry Urbino 9 LE electric buses and 30 Urbino 12 electric buses

BVG Berlin to receive 50 Solaris articulated e-buses

The fleet of the Berlin-based transport operator BVG will be enriched with 50 modern and emission-free Solaris Urbino 18 electric buses in the next two years. The contract was awarded as part of a framework agreement, which allows the carrier to purchase up to 700 vehicles – with orders to be placed over eight years.

Berlin’s public transport is already served by 140 battery-powered Solaris Urbino buses in the two most popular lengths: 12 and 18 meters.

“I am extremely happy and proud, that we were able to secure the order for such a highly prestigious contract. Solaris has already provided a significant amount of battery buses to the BVG, which are in daily service on the streets of Berlin, thus contributing to a more sustainable environment within the city. We are very grateful for this clear signal of trust in our products. We will put all our effort into providing modern, reliable and environmental-friendly buses for the passengers in Berlin.” – said Christian Goll, Managing Director of Solaris Deutschland GmbH.

Solaris e-buses for Madrid

EMT Madrid has ordered the low-entry Urbino 9 LE electric and the classic Urbino 12 electric. These modern vehicles, equipped with Solaris High Energy batteries, will substantially contribute to the electrification of EMT Madrid’s fleet. Deliveries will be completed by the end of July 2024.

In accordance with the Sustainable Environmental Development Strategy of the Madrid City Council, known as “Madrid 360,” EMT Madrid aims to operate a fleet consisting entirely of low- and zero-emission buses. In December 2022, the company announced the retirement of the last vehicle with traditional combustion engine from service.

The low-entry Urbino 9 LE electric buses will make their debut on the streets of Madrid, while the 12-meter model Urbino 12 electric is already well-known to the Spanish operator. The buses will be powered by a central motor using energy from Solaris High Energy batteries. In both models, the driver’s cabin has been designed in compliance with EMT standards and requirements to provide a safe and ergonomic workspace with integrated driver assistance devices. Among the amenities worth mentioning is a modern monitoring system, replacing traditional mirrors. Regarding passenger capacity, the 9-meter version will accommodate 24 seated passengers, while the 12-meter version will have 28 seated passengers.

“In recent weeks, we have received many impressive orders from customers across Europe. I am delighted that Madrid has joined their ranks, and with its declarations followed by concrete, bold actions, it sets a great example for transport operators and local governments across Europe. Congratulations, and we wish you continued success,” said Olivier Michard, Member of the Solaris Management Board for Sales and Marketing.

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