Mercedes Unveils Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid Bus

As the hybrid fobia catches on, it was only a matter of time before the technology was transferred, more than before, to the realm of public transportation. Given that buses are mass transportation vehicles, fitting them with hybrid technologies can offer, along side the low-to-zero emissions, the benefits of quiet cruising.

Mercedes had this in mind when it took the technology off the Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid and fitted onto the new Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid. Set to premiere at the UITP Congress in Vienna on June 7, Daimler released today the first photo of the bus. Even if not as exciting as say, the BlueTEC SUVs announced yesterday for the European market, it's worth a look. It may be the one you see on your city streets tomorrow.

The Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid is a zero emission vehicle, based on the existing fuel cell test buses. The fuel-cell system is backed by a new drive system developed for the Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid. Shared components include axles fitted with electric hub motors, lithium-ion batteries for energy storage, and all electrically powered ancillary components.

Thanks to regenerative braking (a KERS system) the Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid is able to achieve hydrogen savings of between 10 and 25 percent, depending on the traffic conditions and topography.

Platform wise, the Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid is based on the Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban bus. It is part of the company's Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban bus and Daimler calls it "the first representative of the new generation of fuel cell models from Daimler Buses."