- Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (rnv) received first three of 48 fully electric eCitaro articulated buses with a 60 kW fuel cell as range extender
- NMC3 high-performance batteries and fuel cell increase range to up to 400 kilometers on one charge
- Delivery of all 48 articulated vehicles with range extender by mid-2025
- Option for a further 27 eCitaro G fuel cell articulated buses of the same design
- Funded by H2Rhein-Neckar and H2Rivers hydrogen projects
- Till Oberwörder: Strengthening of Mannheim site for Daimler Buses and rnv
- Daimler Buses Mannheim plant is a center of excellence for city buses of all drive types
Leinfelden-Echterdingen/Mannheim/Heidelberg —Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH, or rnv for short, is setting an important standard for increasing environmental friendliness in local public transport within the Rhine-Neckar region: The world’s first all-electric Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro articulated buses from series production with a fuel cell as a range extender and a range of up to 400 kilometers are in use in urban traffic throughout the cities of Mannheim and Heidelberg.
The ceremonial handover of the first three Mercedes-Benz eCitaro G fuel cell vehicles took place on November 23, 2023 on the premises of the rnv depot at Bergheimer Strasse 155 in Heidelberg in the presence of Dr Andre Baumann, State Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy of Germany’s Federal State of Baden-Württemberg. Till Oberwörder, CEO of Daimler Buses, handed over the keys of the three premiere vehicles to Martin in der Beek, Technical Director of Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH, as well as Prof. Dr Eckart Würzner, Mayor of the City of Heidelberg.
As Till Oberwörder, CEO of Daimler Buses said: “We are proud of the long-standing partnership with Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH, which is manifested in today’s handover of the first Mercedes-Benz eCitaro G fuel cell. The birth and production site of our city buses and the rnv headquarters are closely linked in Mannheim, which strengthens this site within the Rhine-Neckar region for both enterprises.”
In addition to the three eCitaro G fuel cell vehicles, a further 45 eCitaro articulated buses of identical design will be delivered successively by mid-2025. 40 of the total 48 vehicles will be destined for regular service in Mannheim and Heidelberg. The eight other buses will be used in Ludwigshafen am Rhein. In addition, rnv has an order option for an additional 27 eCitaro G fuel cell vehicles, with which rnv’s bus quota can be increased to a total of 75 fully electric fuel cell articulated buses provided by Daimler Buses by 2027 if required.
rnv relying on locally emission-free operation in local public transport
rnv has set itself the objective of converting its entire vehicle fleet in the Mannheim-Ludwigshafen-Heidelberg metropolitan area to locally emission-free drives by 2032. The all-electric buses bearing the Mercedes star make an important contribution to this: Since 2018, the transport company based in Mannheim has already received 36 eCitaro electric solo buses and integrated them into regular service. Another important part in this are the all-electric eCitaro G low-floor articulated buses with a fuel cell as range extender.
rnv is receiving support to achieve this ambitious objective through the H2Rhein-Neckar and H2Rivers funding projects, in which the everyday suitability of hydrogen and fuel cell technology in the mobility sector is examined and tested in day-to-day operation.
Test deployment in Mannheim and Heidelberg until the beginning of 2024
Before the new eCitaro G fuel cell electric articulated buses are used in regular service in the rnv operating area, they will first undergo what is known as a test operation until the beginning of 2024. In addition to instructing and intensively training drivers, rnv will use this period of time for test refueling and range estimations, among other things, in order to be able to optimally design and shape operations on the routes in Mannheim, Heidelberg and Ludwigshafen. The the H2Rhein-Neckar project’s accompanying scientific research will evaluate the data from day-to-day operation and provide further indications for optimizing processes in the depot, energy consumption and route planning.
NMC3 batteries and fuel cell: Range of up to 400 kilometers
The three-door electric articulated buses with fuel cell range extender each have four battery packs with the latest generation of lithium-ion batteries (NMC3) and a battery capacity of 392 kWh per vehicle. They form the basis of the power supply. The hydrogen supply of the 60 kW fuel cell is provided by six H2 cylinders, each with a capacity of five kilograms, installed on the vehicle roof. The hydrogen tanks are refueled on the right above the second axle in the direction of travel.
Both the center and rear axles of the articulated buses are powered. The vehicle is driven by two low-floor portal axles with electric motors near the wheels, each with 250 kW of output. The electric motors produce 141 kW per wheel and generate a torque of 494 Nm. This results in an outstanding torque of 11,000 Nm per wheel thanks to a fixed ratio. This ensures high levels of grip and good performance even on demanding uphill gradients en route, and enables the eCitaro G fuel cell to achieve a range of around 400 kilometers.
30 charging stations supply rnv’s electric buses with electricity, supplemented by two recently completed hydrogen refueling stations. The batteries are charged with 150 kW charging capacity, and the hydrogen tanks are refueled at a refueling pressure of 350 bar at rnv depots in Heidelberg, Mannheim and Ludwigshafen or in their immediate vicinity.
Passenger compartment safety and equipment leave nothing to be desired
Safe, comfortable and environmentally friendly: The extensive equipment of the eCitaro G fuel cell low-floor city buses with white and orange paintwork impresses both passengers and drivers. Attractive exterior and interior design, kneeling as well as body lifting system, large destination displays, tire pressure monitoring system (TPM), rain and light sensor as well as LED technology for low beams and high beams, cornering lights, front fog lamps and daytime running lamps are just a few examples.
The safety equipment in rnv’s eCitaro G fuel cell electric articulated buses also includes a variety of state-of-the-art assistance systems. This includes the world’s first active brake assistant, Preventive Brake Assist, which was specially developed for scheduled-service buses. Together with Sideguard Assist, this protects particularly vulnerable road users.
The passenger compartment of the new buses is characterized by its appealing design. This ranges from Mercedes-Benz City Star Eco seating with 50 passenger seats, featuring seat and backrest surfaces with gray or orange fabric covers striking fresh notes, to the handrails in pastel orange and the floor in a wood look. Three double-width and electrically powered inward-swinging doors allow for a rapid passenger turnaround. Information and entertainment on board are provided by twelve double USB sockets for passengers’ electronic devices, as well as two large 29-inch TFT screens. The EvoThermatic basic roof-mounted air conditioning system with heat pump and an active filter with antiviral function, as well as additional filters for blower heaters, ensure a healthy and comfortable climate on board.
A manually operated folding ramp by the middle entrance door and two special-use areas around doors 2 and 3 make the buses easier to use, especially for passengers with restricted mobility, those with bicycles and parents with pushchairs. For emergencies, the buses are equipped with six dome cameras, an emergency call button and a vehicle positioning system. The prerequisites for use in school bus transport are also fulfilled.
Comfortable workplace for the driver
In the City cockpit, drivers sit behind a cab door with a fully glazed partition. Seating comfort is ensured by the swiveling, climate-controlled driver’s seat with memory function and lumbar support. From electrically adjustable exterior and interior mirrors to a reversing camera system for safe maneuvering, a video surveillance system for the entrance at door 3 in the rear section to the heated windshield, the gooseneck microphone for announcements operated with a foot switch, a USB double socket for small electrical devices, a refrigerator box for drinks, numerous stowage compartments and an iPad storage box, the driver’s workplace is thoroughly comfortable, safe and leaves nothing to be desired.
First buses with fuel cell from the Daimler Buses Mannheim plant
The Mercedes‑Benz eCitaro low-floor electric bus has been in production at the Daimler Buses Mannheim plant since 2018. More than 1,000 eCitaro units have already rolled off the production line. With the eCitaro fuel cell, the first model with a hydrogen-based fuel cell as a range extender is now in series production in Mannheim. The site has built up cross-departmental know-how – from development to production – in order to optimally prepare for the new technology. In addition, the plant has installed a hydrogen tank facility for commissioning the vehicles. This makes Mannheim the first Daimler Buses site to produce buses with a fuel cell.
The plant is the center of excellence for city buses of all drive types and is part of the Daimler Buses production network. In addition to city buses with alternative drives, the site currently also produces conventionally driven vehicles with maximum flexibility on a single assembly line. Preparations are currently underway at the plant for the production of exclusively electrically powered buses. The conversion is planned to take place in 2024.
The Mannheim bus plant currently employs around 3,300 people in central roles and in assembly.
Hydrogen pilot project in the Rhine-Neckar region
Of the total quota of 48 eCitaro G fuel cell articulated buses, 13 vehicles will be used in Mannheim, 27 in Heidelberg and eight in Ludwigshafen. The 40 electric articulated buses with fuel cell range extenders for Mannheim and Heidelberg will receive funding of 16.55 million euros from the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy of Baden-Württemberg in the H2Rhein-Neckar project as part of the Baden-Württemberg Automotive Industry Strategy Dialog. The funding for the remaining eight buses, which are intended for regular service in the Rhineland-Palatinate city of Ludwigshafen, is provided by the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) as part of the H2Rivers partner project.
Together, H2Rhein-Neckar and H2Rivers form one of the largest demonstration projects for H2 mobility in south-west Germany. They will test the use of new hydrogen technologies and provide new insights for the development of regional hydrogen ecosystems. The various sub-projects cover all areas of the hydrogen economy: They represent the entire hydrogen-based value chain from hydrogen generation to transportation up to the various mobility applications, and make hydrogen and fuel cell technology tangible on the road, so to speak. Regional synergies and integrated value chains help to make fuel cell mobility competitive, and demonstrate the everyday suitability of hydrogen as an energy source in the transport sector.
Project coordination for the H2Rhein-Neckar project lies with e‑mobil BW GmbH, while the H2Rivers project is coordinated by the metropolitan region of Rhein‑Neckar GmbH. Within the projects, Daimler Buses supplies electric buses with fuel cell range extenders. Other project partners within the H2Rivers consortium are responsible for hydrogen production (BASF), hydrogen refueling stations (H2 Mobility) and transportation/logistics (Air Liquide).
Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH: Three cities, one transport company
The company operates bus, light rail and streetcar routes in the cities of Mannheim, Heidelberg and Ludwigshafen am Rhein, as well as two regional railway lines. The enterprise covers an area of around 62, 000 hectares with a route length of around 860 kilometers. The fleet comprises around 250 buses and 190 railway vehicles. The transport services were used by around 145 million passengers in the 2022 financial year.
Main Image caption: Till Oberwörder (CEO Daimler Buses); Dr. Andre Baumann (State Secretary in the Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector Baden-Württemberg ); Prof. Dr. Eckart Würzner (Lord Mayor of Heidelberg); Martin in der Beek (Technical Managing Director Rhein-Neckar Verkehr GmbH); Falk Schulte-Wintrop (H2 Mobility Germany). Copyright: Daimler Truck AG
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