Buses and coaches at IAA Transportation 2024, Mercedes eCitaro K and King Long BEV coach in the spotlight

The IAA Transportation 2024 event in Hanover is running from September 17, to 22. Latest advancements in commercial vehicles, logistics, and transport sectors will be shown, with a specific focus on the truck market.

In fact, despite being a leading platform for the industry, bus manufacturers have significantly scaled back their participation this year (but this trend is visibile since a few years).

However, 2024 edition of IAA Transportation resulted being quite surprising for bus-professionals. Although only a few exhibitors (Bluebus, Daimler Truck, Habas, Higer, King Long, Scania, Sinotruck, Wisdom Motor, Asiastar) are representing the bus sector, most of these are newcomers at IAA and were not even expected at the expo.

Buses and coaches at IAA 2024

It is undeniable that the bus sector has lost momentum in the context of the IAA in recent years (see our reporting from 2022 edition). Rather, many bus OEMs and providers have turned to InnoTrans, where the Bus Display in the Summer Garden has dedicated itself to the bus world (but it looks like the number of bus manufacturers taking part to the expo is not growing so much).

A newly planned bus theme park at IAA Transportation in Hannover has been cancelled as “bus manufacturers had not made sufficient bookings”.

Daimler Buses: the eCitaro K is on the market

Although the main news coming from Daimler Truck are related to the truck sector (namely: start of series production of the eActros 600 in November and launch of new TruckCharge brand, as reported on our sister media platform Sustainable Truck & Van), Daimler Truck brought in Hannover also something to show to public transport professionals.

The new eCitaro K (10,633-mm long) follows the 12-meter eCitaro and the G model already well established on the European market. The wheelbase has been shortened by around 1.5 meters (and stands to 4,398 millimetres), capacity is up to 84 passengers. Turning radio? From data sheet: approximately 17,284 mm.

From four to six battery packs are possible on board. Given that each has 98 kWh capacity, it means that battery capacity can vary from 392 to 589 kWh. “Five high-voltage battery packs with a total energy capacity of 491 kWh, spread across the roof (three packs) and the rear (two packs), ensure an appropriate range for the two-door solo bus”, the OEM states.

King Long is at IAA with a product premiere, i.e. its battery-electric coach prototype Merry Combo, as highlighted by the German media omnibus.news. The 12.25m long is the outcome of a brand new design work. It can seat up to 55 passengers (starting with a deluxe version featuring 40 seats). The battery capacity stands at 528 kWh. The motor power is listed as 240 kW or 480 kW.

King Long e-coach at IAA Transportation Hannover 2024

King Long surprised the bus-addicted at the expo by raising the curtain on what is still a prototype, but will be the new in-house electric coach. Its name? Merry Combo. Its design? Truly eye-catching.

It is a Class III 12,250 millimeters long, 2,550 wide and 3,880 high, with a wheelbase of 6,300 mm. The minimum turning radius is 9.5 meters, while the suspension (independent front) is by ZF. Since this is a touring coach, we emphasize the luggage compartment volume of 10 cubic meters.

Coming to the engine, its maximum power output-from the data sheet-is given as 240 kW or 480 kW, while the battery capacity is 528 kWh. Range? Under normal conditions, 516 kilometers. Charging relies on the standard CCS2 type.

Wisdom Motor at IAA Transportation

A intercity fuel cell bus and a coach, H2-powered as well, are on stage at IAA Transportation, at Wisdom’s stand. The intercity hydrogen bus U12FC200 is a 12-meter vehicle with small CATL battery (58 kWh) and quite powerful Ballard fuel cell module: 200 kW. Motor comes from Accelera by cummins

And the coach? On board there’s room for up to 55 seated passengers. The coach is 3.8-meter tall and share the very same specification as the Class II vehicle (batteries, fuel cell stack, motor). What is interesting, 700 bar tanks are reportedly available, for up to 44 kg hydrogen capacity.

French Bluebus showcases its 6 and 12-meter e-buses in Hannover.

Higer is in Hannover with a battery-electric minibus. At Scania’s stand, the Fencer F1 made in cooperation with Higer is available to visitors: it marks the start of the Fencer series’ marketing in Germany.

Habas and Sinotruck: buses at IAA, with zero-emission

The Turkish group Habas is expected to show “a BEV coach, a FCEV city bus and a BEV minibus“. Specifically, we’re talking of the models Alfa City E (8.2-meter long, battery-electric city bus, Alfa Lux E, battery-powered midi coach, ComfortCity H2, a 12-meter low floor fuel cell bus powered with Voith electric motor.

Let’s stay in Turkey: a Karsan Autonomous e-Atak has been operating in the outside area of Hannover Messe. Where attendees could also run into a Irizar i6S coach, on Scania’s chassis.

And Scania is another bus exhibitors joining Hannover’s lineup with the Fencer range, manufactured in cooperation with Higer, now available in Germany.

H13E is the name of Zhongtong‘s electric intercity bus model, on show at IAA. 13-meter long, the bus features 465 kWh battery capacity and is filled with 59 STER passenger seats.

Iveco Bus – ZF partnership for next generation buses

Iveco Bus and ZF are entering a cooperation aiming at deploying e-mobility solutions for passenger transportation. The announcement was made at IAA Hannover and it’s quite surprising as up to now Iveco e-buses have been equipped with Siemens (now Cummins) e-powertrain.

What is also worth noticing is that Iveco Bus’ sister company FPT Industrial has electric drivetrains in portfolio (with novelties just showcased in Hannover), besides battery modules (such as the ones adopted by Iveco on the E-Way range).

FPT Industrial at IAA Transportation 2024 in Hannover

FPT Industrial (Iveco Group) is among the key players at the IAA Transportation 2024 in Hannover For the occasion, FPT has decided to present several new products, all in the vein of the energy mix approach, where ICE, gas and electric coexist and complement each other.

In Hannover the new eAX 200-R, belonging to the latest generation of electrified axles for commercial vehicles from 3.5 to 11 tons and minibuses, saw the light. 

Thus the “reinforced” eAX 375-R version for medium and heavy-duty applications, also suitable for intercity and coach applications.

But there’s more! Such as the XCursor 13, FPT Industrial’s first single-base multi-fuel engine, shown at IAA Transportation in three versions: one for long-haul heavy trucks, one for heavy construction vehicles, and one for coaches.

CATL Tectrans launched: (also) for electric coaches

The global leader battery supplier CATL chose IAA Transportation in Hannover to launch the Tectrans battery system. Within the product range there’s a specific Bus Edition is headed to long-distance passenger transport, featuring an energy density of 175Wh/kg. Its “compact design offers long-range capabilities and low energy consumption, enhancing vehicle layout flexibility. The advanced thermal management system maintains optimal performance across various climates, reducing internal temperature disparity by 50% and ensuring longevity even in extreme conditions”, CATL says. 

The handover of the Bus of the Year 2024… at IAA!

A relevant bus-related event scheduled during IAA Transportation 2024 was the handover of the “Bus of the Year 2025” award, although none of the finalists — MAN’s Lion’s City 12 E LE, Mercedes-Benz’s eCitaro fuel cell, Ebusco’s 3.0 articulated bus, Solaris’s Urbino 18 Hydrogen, and VDL’s New Citea series — is phisycally on the exhibition’s ground. Winner? Solaris’s Urbino 18 Hydrogen, marking the first time a hydrogen-powered vehicle has received this prize. The model has been at the end available at the exhibition.