Mercedes eCitaro G selected as winner of Ebus Test 2024 comparison initiative by Omnibusspiegel

The Mercedes-Benz eCitaro has been elected as the Electric Bus Champion of the year 2024 within German journalistic comparison initiative Ebus Test promoted by trade media Omnibusspiegel.

It’s not the first time: last year, the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro – at that time taking part in the solo bus version – had already come out on top against all competitors and won the coveted title. At the sixth edition of the electric bus comparison test, which took place in Bonn in the middle of April 2024, more than 40 international specialised journalists and representatives of passenger transport companies spent four days closely scrutinising the latest low-floor articulated buses with battery-electric drive systems. Our editorial staff has been joining the event.

Mercedes eCitaro wins Ebus Test 2024

In addition to test drives on a challenging test circuit leading through the outskirts of Bonn, the testers’ programme also included ride-alongs as passengers. Experienced workshop professionals and service technicians also evaluated the service and repair friendliness of all participating vehicles in a workshop check. Following the extensive test trips, the testers awarded points for passenger comfort, handling for the drivers, manufacturing and finishing quality and the service-friendliness of each bus.

The test bus was equipped with six high-voltage battery packs with a total energy capacity of around 588 kWh, thus ensuring that the four-door articulated bus has an adequate range of operation. Alternatively, the eCitaro articulated bus is available with a minimum of four and a maximum of seven battery packs with a combined capacity of up to 686 kWh.

The test bus in the electric bus comparison test was equipped with the dynamic Articulation Turntable Controller (ATC), which ensures optimum steering characteristics, high stability and great manoeuvrability.

Other equipment features on board of the test bus included the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS), the radar-based Sideguard Assist turning assistant and the Preventive Brake Assist active braking assistance system. New assistance and safety systems In the run-up to the future General Safety Regulation (GSR) within the EU and in other European countries, the members of the Citaro family and thus also the eCitaro G will gradually become even safer by July 2024 thanks to new assistance and safety systems.

The new systems include the Sideguard Assist 2 turning assistant, which reacts and warns even more precisely if there is a risk of of collision with pedestrians and cyclists and now also monitors the area on the driver’s side. Frontguard Assist is completely new. It detects and warns of obstacles or people directly in front of the vehicle. Together with the reversing camera, which now comes as standard, or even more with the optional 360° camera system in the solo vehicle or 270° camera system in the articulated bus, the drivers are provided with a comprehensive information and warning system for the area around their eCitaro buses.

Another new feature is the intelligent Traffic Sign Assist speed and traffic sign assistant. Finally, the Tyre Pressure Monitoring system (TPM) and the Attention Assist (AtAs) attention assistant as well as an interface for using alcohol testers at the driver’s workplace are going to be adopted as standard equipment.