The Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid has been unveiled at the UITP World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition in Vienna. The hydrogen powered Citaro buses have evidenced impressive performance during fleet tests.
According to Daimler, the Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid uses the same hydrogen fuel cell technology as the Mercedes F-Cell B-Class car. Daimler also stated that small-lot production of the F-Cell B-class will begin fall of 2009.
The Daimler fuel cell buses have been a part of the HyFLEET: CUTE test program running between 2003 and 2006 in which 36 Daimler buses were put on the streets to gauge performance. During the testing the hydrogen buses logged more than 1.2 million miles during 135,000 hours of operation.
Daimler hopes to build and cell more of the Citaro buses that will become part of the ever growing European Hydrogen Highway system that is outpacing that inside the U. S. Hydrogen buses are a critical part of testing and public acceptance of hydrogen as clean, green alternative fuel that will lower emissions wherever and whenever they travel from point A to point B.