Cardiff Bus trials Mercedes-Benz eCitaro
Cardiff Bus, which already operates Yutong electric buses, has carried out a 12-day trial of the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro demonstration vehicle.
The Mercedes-Benz eCitaro, now equipped with the latest NMC2 batteries for increased range, entered the fleet to demonstrate its capabilities on Cardiff’s busier routes linking surrounding communities to Wales’ capital city.
Totalling just over 1,200km over the demonstration period, the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro had to cope with the heatwave in July. It covered 353km during the two day period of extreme temperatures and completed the service without untoward range depletion or excess energy consumption, according to EvoBus.
For passengers, interior ambient temperatures remained largely unaffected by the heatwave – with an average interior temperature increase of 1.5 – 3°C versus that of typical climatic conditions.
David Conway, service delivery director, Cardiff Bus, says: “The vehicle proved itself more than capable, both on the services we operate and in comparison with the existing electric buses we have in the fleet.”
In addition to the demonstration, July 2022 also saw Cardiff Bus take delivery of an ex demonstration Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid previously operated by EvoBus UK. Joining an already large fleet of Mercedes- Benz Citaro buses, the low emission certified hybrid model should deliver up to an 8.5 per cent fuel saving compared to a Euro VI diesel-powered Citaro and lower exhaust emissions.