Daimler Buses hands over eCitaro to Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe: #wirbewegendresden – now for the 250th time

Comunicato Stampa disponibile solo in lingua originale. 

Daimler Buses hands over eCitaro to Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe: #wirbewegendresden – now for the 250th time

• 250th Mercedes-Benz bus handed over
• Delivery of 20 eCitaro buses
• Daimler Buses electrifies Dresden’s bus fleet

Stuttgart / Mannheim / Dresden - Making a clear statement on the transportation revolution and local public transport, Chief Financial Officer and Technical Officer of Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG (DVB) #andreashemmersbach and DVB Motor Vehicle Manager Robert Roch have accepted the 250th Mercedes-Benz bus to be delivered to this transport company based in Dresden since 1990. "With these new buses, we see the perfect addition to our climate-friendly fleet of light rail vehicles. Together they represent the future of local transport in Dresden: electric, silent, and modern," says #andreashemmersbach, marveling at one of the 20 new eCitaro buses. “Around a third of our more than 500,000 passengers travel in buses every day, using at least one of the 29 provided routes to do so.” 

Rüdiger Kappel, Fleet Sales Manager at #daimler Buses Germany, handed over this anniversary vehicle to his customers from Dresden at the Mannheim Customer Center at the beginning of May."We have been supplying buses to DVB for over 30 years now and are proud that they trust in the quality of our products. With zero-emission electric buses, we want to help make Dresden’s city center more attractive and worth living in," says Sales Manager Kappel happily, referring to the current DVB hashtag “#wemovedresden” ("#wirbewegendresden") with this anniversary vehicle – now the 250th time.     

Only the yellow color remains

Exactly 32 years ago, it was the classic O 405 N city bus that modernized bus routes in this city on the Elbe river. The first low-floor vehicles used by DVB at the time were popular with passengers primarily because of their barrier-free concept and spacious, bright interior. Today, 250 vehicles later, the only thing that the successor shares with its 32-year-old predecessor is the same yellow exterior color. Technology in particular has developed rapidly over the years. The buses ordered now are no longer powered by diesel engines, but by emission-free electric motors. High-performance nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries are used as energy storage units. The eCitaro no longer has to stop at conventional fuel stations. It obtains the electrical energy required using a folding pantograph: at depot charging stations at night, at defined terminus points along the route during the day. In addition, this bus is fitted with a SmartCharge control system that optimizes the charging intensity. This system protects the battery and extends its service life. This, in turn, helps reduce costs if the battery has to be replaced later. 

Heating and air conditioning systems in the DVB eCitaro are based on a CO2 heat pump integrated into the powertrain water circuit. Energy consumption when using the heat pump is reduced compared to electric heaters with fans, which increases the bus range, especially in winter. Furthermore, the integrated air conditioning system has antiviral filters. This reduces passengers' risk of infection on the bus, and not only during a pandemic.

What would have seemed futuristic in 1990 is now standard: Passengers are no longer provided information about the route and order of stops by means of cardboard signs, but by a modern infotainment system. Two high-contrast monitors also provide real-time information on possible connections, daily news, or event information. Anyone on board seeking more customized information can access the free bus WiFi network.

To keep drivers safe, a protective driver screen has been installed to prevent or impede an assault. Air-conditioned seats keep drivers' backs fresh, even during long shifts. When reversing, drivers are now assisted by a camera/monitor system with wide angle view.

Sustainable mobility in Dresden

To achieve sustainable mobility, DVB is seeking to integrate as many electric buses as possible into its fleet of around 150 vehicles in addition to its environmentally-friendly light rail systems. By summer 2022, all 20 eCitaro buses ordered, 18 of which are articulated buses, will be in regular service throughout Dresden. Among others, these new vehicles will replace eight Citaro hybrid buses, which were procured in 2011 and are still operated today.

In the future, electric buses will be used on lines 68 and 81. The 68 line is one of the busiest bus routes and runs through the city center. Here, locally carbon-neutral operation will make a particular contribution to protecting the climate. In contrast, line 81, running along the city's perimeter, has a particularly demanding topography and connects Dresden’s downtown with important commercial and electronics locations north of the city.