First all-electric Mercedes-Benz buses hit Austria’s roads

Eleven Mercedez-Benz eCitaro electric low-floor solo buses will be put into operation by Postbus AG in Southern Austria. (Photo: Daimler Buses)

Daimler Buses announced that 11 new Mercedez-Benz eCitaro electric low-floor solo buses will be put into operation by Postbus AG, a Viennese company connecting more than 1700 municipalities throughout Austria. The buses will be the first all-electric Mercedes-Benz models in regular service on Austria’s roads.

The eCitaro utilizes wheel-hub motors, mounted on a ZF AVE 130 drive axle, that are supplied with a total energy capacity of between 292 and 441 kWH, depending on the battery variant installed, according to the Daimler Buses website. In order to save energy, the eCitaro features an acceleration control system that provides identical acceleration dynamics whether the bus is empty or full.

All eleven vehicles have a pantograph for rapid intermediate charging of their high-voltage batteries. The buses are also equipped with the Omniplus ON Bus Data Center real-time communication module, enabling the control center to constantly monitor vehicle operating conditions, including battery charge level or remaining range as well as all diagnostic messages. In addition, ÖBB Postbus is integrating vehicle data from the Daimler Buses Cloud into its fleet management systems.

All eleven vehicles have a pantograph for rapid intermediate charging of their high-voltage batteries. (Photo: Daimler Buses)

The buses will be used on behalf of transport association Ost-Region (VOR) for the Schweinbarther Kreuz project in the southern Weinviertel region of Lower Austria. The project is a public transport hub connecting train stations at Gänserndorf, Wolkersdorf and Mistelbach. With eight buses in constant operation on two routes, batteries in two other buses will be rapidly charged with up to 300 kW in roughly 30 minutes in Gänserndorf to ensure uninterrupted service. Buses will also be charged overnight in all three communities served. Charging stations are currently being set up and are expected to go into operation in August.

The buses for Postbus AG are equipped with a wheelchair area, a folding ramp at door 2, an enclosed driver’s cab, a passenger counting system and two TFT monitors for passenger information.