Medenbach Traffic Adding 57 Mercedes-Benz Citaro Hybrids to Fleet

Medenbach Traffic GmbH has taken possession of the first ten of 57 Mercedes-Benz scheduled-service buses with hybrid drive at the Mannheim bus plant. The overall order is made up of 39 Citaro hybrid inter-city buses, 13 Citaro hybrid articulated buses and five Citaro hybrid buses in the short Citaro K version.

When the 57 Citaro hybrid vehicles are used for their first scheduled service mid-December this year, each vehicle will be significantly more economical than its purely diesel-powered counterpart. The mild hybrid drive—with a 14 kW electric motor at its core—reduces fuel consumption by up to 8.5% by supporting the combustion engine when pulling away. It generates the necessary electrical energy itself when coasting or braking.

The electric motor can provide support with 220 N·m of torque when pulling away. The hybrid system of the vehicles also includes “intelligent eco steering”—the electrohydraulic steering system equipped as standard. This steering system operates as required and is only activated when the driver performs steering movements. This additionally saves fuel.

All Mercedes-Benz buses have a safety package in accordance with the GSR (General Safety Regulation) guidelines. This includes a reversing camera as well as numerous assistance systems such as ATAS (Attention Assist), Traffic Sign Assist and Sideguard Assist 2, which in the current version also monitors the driver’s side of the vehicle. A video surveillance system for the interior, including the entrance and door areas, rounds off the safety package.

The interior destination displays are fitted with 18.5-inch TFT monitors, while Medenbach has chosen LED technology for the external direction displays for better legibility. In addition, all new Citaro hybrid buses are equipped with the comfortable Inter Star Eco (ISE) inter-city seating. This seat variant from Mercedes-Benz is specially designed for longer journey times in the vehicle.

The Medenbach family business is based in Weilburg, Central Hesse, and was founded in 1935 as a pure goods freight company. The introduction of the first regular bus route from Weilburg to Wetzlar in 1951 laid the foundations for today’s Medenbach Traffic GmbH.

The bus company currently operates bus routes in the Limburg-Weilburg and Lahn-Dill districts. The fleet comprises around 110 vehicles, including the 57 new Citaro hybrids. The company covers more than four million kilometers of bus routes annually with its vehicles.