Daimler Buses is celebrating the world premiere of the new Mercedes-Benz eCitaro K, the 10.63-metre short version of the successful eCitaro, at IAA Transportation 2024. Its forte is narrow, angular routes in suburbs and old towns, as well as operations with a limited number of passengers.
With the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro K, Daimler Buses is now offering a short version of the popular, all-electric low-floor bus in addition to the 12.14-metre-long eCitaro and the 18.13-metre-long eCitaro G. Despite its compact size, the eCitaro K is a fully-fledged public service bus with all the qualities of its larger siblings. With a wheelbase of 4,398 millimetres, shorter than the eCitaro by around 1.5 metres, the eCitaro K offers outstanding manoeuvrability.
The eCitaro K is available with a minimum of four and a maximum of six battery packs, with a total capacity of up to 588 kWh. In the maximum configuration, the eCitaro K reaches a range of more than 300 kilometres under favourable conditions – over the entire service life of the battery. For even longer routes, intermediate charging using a pantograph is also possible in the eCitaro K.
The new eCitaro K is available with either two or three doors. The layout of the eCitaro K passenger compartment is identical to that of the Citaro and eCitaro. Just as the passengers don’t have to adapt, neither does the driver of the eCitaro K. The cockpit and operating concept of the city bus correspond to those seen in the eCitaro, ensuring quick driver changeovers, as usual. Like its longer siblings, the eCitaro K is also powered by the ZF AVE 130 electric portal axle with two motors, each with a peak output of 125 kW. It has also been equipped with the latest safety and assistance systems.
The Mercedes-Benz eCitaro K is optionally available with cameras instead of the previous exterior mirrors. The advantages of the MirrorCam camera system are obvious: an extended field of vision for the driver through the windows and significantly better visibility to the rear in the dark, thanks to residual light amplification. Compared with conventional mirrors, the MirrorCam barely or only slightly protrudes beyond the vehicle edges. This means easier manoeuvring and less damage.
