The new fully-electric articulated bus, the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro G with innovative solid-state ... [+]
They may be big and boxy, but don't call them boring, because things are happening in the realm of electric passenger buses. Three announcements came out this week regarding electric buses, and they all point to a much cleaner future for cities and riders.
Up first, since it has the coolest future tech, is the fact that the new Mercedes-Benz eCitaro G that can be ordered with solid-state batteries. While Daimler is offering the eCitaro G with second-generation lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) battery packs that can hold a total of 396 kWh, it's the solid-state packs that could be the real game-changer here. Solid state batteries is something automakers around the world are working on as a replacement to the li-ion packs used by almost all of the electric vehicles on the road today.
Unfortunately, Daimler was not willing to tell me any information about what this news might mean for the company's electrified passenger cars, but that doesn't mean there's no possibility of a connection. What we do know is that in the eCitaro G, which is now the first series production city bus in its category to come with solid-state batteries, the solid state packs will offer 25 percent more energy density than even the next iteration of lithium-ion batteries, packing a whopping 441 kWh of energy in a fully charged eCitaro G. One of the benefits of solid state packs is that they can be made without cobalt and so they're more environmentally friendly. Daimler also says the packs will last up to 10 years, or up to 280 MWh of energy throughput. Both the solid state and the NMC chemistries will be available in the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro solo bus, which was first launched in 2018.
Proterra Electric Bus
Up next, Proterra announced that its new ZX5 electrified 40-foot bus will be able to store more energy - 660 kWh - and drive up to 329 miles on a full charge. That gives the ZX5 "the most energy storage and longest drive range of any 40-foot electric bus available in the market today," the company said. Smaller versions of the Proterra ZX5 - either in overall length (35 feet) or in battery capacity (440 kWh or 220 kWh) will also be available.
Proterra has been selling electric transit buses for over a decade now, and has over 120 customers in North America. It has sold and delivered more battery-electric buses on the continent than anyone else, and said the ZX5 was "designed to tackle the toughest routes and terrains across North America," according to CEO and Chairman Jack Allen. Depending on configuration (a standard ProDrive drivetrain and a DuoPower drivetrain are both available), the ZX5's powertrain produces up to 550 horsepower and can accelerate to 20 miles per hour in six seconds (great for the regular stops and starts a bus goes through each day) and can move the bus up a 25-percent grade.
Finally we have an announcement from Enel X saying that it will help public organizations in the U.S. electrify their bus fleets with a “suite of services” thanks to grants it received from the Accelerating Clean Transportation Now (ACTNow) program run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). The first organizations Enel X will assist are the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the Hopkinton Public School District in Massachusetts. Enel X will provide support with “infrastructure planning, procurement, energy supply and management, and software” throughout the Commonwealth.
Told ya things are happening.
