Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach unit receives support from the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS) for the development, research and testing of the first small fleet of diesel hybrid urban buses with electric drive capability. The ministry (BMVBS) signed a letter of intent for this purpose yesterday.

The BMVBS has named eight model regions for future pilot projects for the "Electromobility Model Regions" support programme. The selected regions qualified during a call for bids and were chosen out of 130 applications for the pilot projects. The support programme, which is being funded with 115 million euros from the Economic Package II, provides targeted funds for the testing and accelerated market preparation of electrically operated vehicles until 2011. The projects must however be started by the end of 2010.

The Electromobility Support Programme allows for the further development and testing of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec® Hybrid articulated bus. That means that ease of maintenance, costs and the technical maturity of the innovative drive technology can be continually optimised as a result. The drive technology for the Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec® Hybrid is the only concept for buses currently being introduced to the public which is capable of driving several kilometres on pure electric power. Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses, explained: "Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec® Hybrid is making an important contribution to turning electromobility in Germany into a reality. We would like to use this initiative to further expand our technological leadership in the bus sector".

In the coming year Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach unit will test around 30 Citaro G BlueTec® Hybrid articulated buses in selected model regions in daily operation. Based on different topographies and speed profiles the hybrid buses should prove their suitability for everyday practical use. Back in March of this year experts from European transport networks experienced the Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec® Hybrid articulated bus driving live for the first time. They praised the 18-metre-long hybrid urban bus for its ability to drive completely emissions-free on partial routes, its quiet and practically shock-free drive system, its unique vehicle concept with four electrical wheel hub motors and the largest lithium-ion battery in any vehicle worldwide. This battery stores energy produced by the diesel generator and the energy recovered during braking.

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec® Hybrid reduces diesel consumption, which was already quite low, by 20 to 30 percent and decreases CO2 emissions by the same rate. The new hybrid bus has already been extensively prepared in test runs over the past several months. This includes passing a winter test spanning several weeks at the Arctic Circle under the toughest possible operating conditions.

With its global initiative "Shaping Future Transportation" Daimler Commercial Vehicles is setting standards for the zero-emission commercial vehicle of tomorrow. "Shaping Future Transportation“ includes protecting resources, reducing all kinds of emissions and also ensuring the highest possible transportation safety. The Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec® Hybrid which is currently being promoted is part of this initiative, as is the Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid bus which was presented in June at the World Congress (UITP) for public transport in Vienna. Daimler already has 2000 hybrid buses in operation in North America with its Orion bus brand, making it the world market leader for hybrid technology in commercial vehicles.