Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website rnv continues to expand its electric bus routes: Handover of 15 eCitaro buses for inner-city traffic in Ludwigshafen, further 15 eCitaro buses to follow
aprile 13, 2022 - Daimler

rnv continues to expand its electric bus routes: Handover of 15 eCitaro buses for inner-city traffic in Ludwigshafen, further 15 eCitaro buses to follow

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rnv continues to expand its electric bus routes: Handover of 15 eCitaro buses for inner-city traffic in #Ludwigshafen, further 15 eCitaro buses to followApr 12, 2022Stuttgart / Ludwigshafen

  • Local public transport company orders a total of 30 eCitaro buses for #Ludwigshafen, Mannheim and Heidelberg
  • These e-buses are equipped with the latest generation of solid-state batteries
  • Solid-state battery technology offers durability and performance

Stuttgart/Ludwigshafen– Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (rnv) launched its e-bus mobility mission just over three years ago with the handover of three Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro buses. Today, April 11, 2022, with the commissioning of 15 eCitaro buses for Ludwigshafen’s urban traffic, this mission has gained even more importance. A further 15 eCitaro buses are scheduled to go into service in the cities of Mannheim and Heidelberg in May and June. In the presence of #alexanderthewalt, Deputy, Construction and Environmental Director of the City of #Ludwigshafen, and #christianvolz, Commercial Director of rnv, Rüdiger Kappel, Head of Fleet Sales at #Daimler Buses Germany, handed over 15 eCitaro buses to rnv and the City of #Ludwigshafen at the Berliner Platz public transport hub. "We are very proud tho hear that the experience with our Mercedes-Benz e-buses has been so good that rnv has ordered a total of 30 new eCitaro electric buses from us. And, of course, we are delighted that these electric buses are used for local transport and our own employees can now also travel to work each day on these electric buses."

"We have been investing a great deal in the electrification of our bus fleet for years. In our view, this is an investment in the future," says #christianvolz, Commercial Director of rnv. "The acquisition costs for the 15 buses and their charging infrastructure is money well invested. It will pay off throughout the service life of the buses: With fuel prices as they are at the moment, the energy costs per kilometre for a diesel bus are around 60 cents, whereas for an electric bus only around 26 cents. It is expected that this divergence will be even greater in future."

“In addition to the economic aspects, the city of #Ludwigshafen naturally also focuses on the environmental factor,” adds Deputy #alexanderthewalt, Construction and Environmental Director of the city of #Ludwigshafen. "The new electric buses consume less resources in operation overall. But they are also practically emission-free in local operations and thus improve the air quality and quality of life in our city," says Thewalt.

Solid-state battery technology– powerful and durable

The new eCitaro buses are equipped with modern solid-state batteries. They feature very high energy density, about one fourth higher than classic lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolyte. This battery technology is also free of the chemical element cobalt. The new battery technology each with an energy content of 441 kWh is available for both the articulated bus and the solo bus. Depending on the battery equipment, the eCitaro solo bus can travel up to 320 km without recharging under average requirements in terms of speed, topography, load and given basic climatic conditions. Another advantage of solid-state batteries is their durability.

The heating and air conditioning system in the eCitaro is also interesting, as it is based on a CO2 heat pump. Connected to the water circuit of the units, energy consumption is lower compared with electrically- operated side wall heaters with blowers. The range of these vehicles also increases in winter operation.

rnv vehicles come with impressive safety equipment. In addition to a reversing camera, the vehicles score points, for example, with Sideguard Assist, which assists drivers when turning, or Preventive Brake Assist, an active brake assist system specially developed for city buses. Passengers have double USB charging sockets and can track the route, arrival times and media information on a 29-inch monitor.

E-bus mission

rnv put the world’s first eCitaro route into operation in January 2019 in the Heidelberg urban area. Since the three eCitaro buses have been travelling between the main railway station and the old town on the 20 route. Further electric bus routes followed shortly afterwards, this time in Mannheim. Since then, eCitaro buses have been serving a new district and a new commercial estate. The experience gained from these e-bus routes has now led to the acquisition of the 30 new eCitaro buses and the redevelopment of depots to include charging management and infrastructure.

Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH occupies a special position among local transport operators in Germany. It is the municipal transport company founded jointly by the cities of Heidelberg, #Ludwigshafen and Mannheim and also oeprates in three federal states: Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. rnv operates light rail, tram and bus routes. With more than 2,300 employees, over 190 trams and light rail systems as well as around 190 buses, rnv ensures sustainable and environmentally-friendly mobility in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.