Daimler Gets Funding for Hybrid Buses

German manufacturer Daimler announced today it was included in the Electric Mobility Model Regions development program set up by the German Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS). To be eligible for the funding, Daimler had to agree to launch the results of their research by late 2010.

According to the letter of intent signed yesterday between Daimler and BMVBS, the manufacturer will receive funding to develop, evaluate, and test the first small fleet of diesel-hybrid city buses able to run solely on electric power.

“The bus is thus making an important contribution to achieving electric mobility in Germany. With this initiative we want to further remove the technology leadership in the bus segment,” Hartmut Schick, Daimler Buses chief said in a release.

Eight model regions will be included in the program, to act as pilot test projects for Daimler. The manufacturer already announced it will use the money to further enhance and test the Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid articulated bus. So far, it is the world's single bus able to run for several kilometers solely on electric power.

The manufacturer will test 30 of these buses in everyday operation in the selected regions. The Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid provides 20 to 30 percent less fuel consumption figures, while cutting CO2 emissions by about the same amount.

"With its Shaping Future Transportation global initiative, Daimler Trucks is setting the standards for the zero-emission commercial vehicle of the future. The Shaping Future Transportation initiative includes using resources sparingly and reducing emissions of every kind while at the same time guaranteeing maximum traffic safety," Daimler concluded.