German utility subsidiary SWO Mobil orders 19 eCitaro buses
The new city buses will be delivered successively from 2025. Once all 19 eCitaro buses are on the road for SWO Mobil, the proportion of electric buses in Osnabrück will increase to 94 per cent, according to Daimler Buses. Osnabrück is already one of the top 20 cities in Germany for electric buses.
The eCitaro buses now ordered are the twelve-metre-long solo buses with two axles and three doors. The buses can each carry up to 69 passengers, 30 of whom are seated and 39 standing. A manual folding ramp at the rear door is designed for passengers with reduced mobility. In addition to air conditioning with CO2 as a refrigerant (officially labelled R744), the interior has “numerous USB double charging sockets allowing mobile devices to be charged”.
SWO Mobil opted for installing five battery packs in the drive system. One pack offers 98.3 kWh in the so-called “NMC3” battery generation from Daimler Buses, resulting in a total installed capacity of 491.5 kWh – up to six battery packs can be installed in the solo buses. However, even with five packs, the range will be around 270 kilometres and thus, according to the manufacturer, “more than sufficient for a regular-service route”.
The electric buses from Mercedes-Benz are charged exclusively at the depot. As SWO Mobil already has 62 electric articulated VDL buses in its fleet, numerous charging points are available at the depots. Nevertheless, additional charging points will be installed for the 19 additional vehicles.
The order was placed with Daimler Buses following a Europe-wide tender. The procurement of the 19 electric solo buses, including the charging infrastructure, is still subsidised by the German Federal Ministry of Transport with around 5.6 million euros.
“We are delighted that the eCitaro electric bus partnership with SWO Mobil has now started. This order is another important step for us in the expansion of electrified mobility in local public transport in German and international cities,” says Rüdiger Kappel, Head of Sales Public Transport Germany at Daimler Buses.
André Kränzke, Managing Director of SWO Mobil, adds: “In Daimler Buses, we have found a highly competent partner. With the new buses, we are increasing the proportion of electric buses in our fleet to 81 out of a total of 86 vehicles. This gives us an electric bus share of 94 per cent”.
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