Mercedes-Benz do Brasil has launched the fully electric eO500U bus chassis, specially designed for Latin American cities, which will be produced in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Sao Paulo state, from 2022.
The chassis has a range of up to 250km (155 miles) and has the same plug in charger as the eCitaro city bus. A full charge takes around three hours.
“The eO500U chassis is part of our global development strategy for electromobility,” said Gustav Tuschen, head of product engineering and Purchasing Daimler Buses.
The electric bus chassis will be launched in Brazil and in other Latin American countries. Use outside of Latin America is possible.
The eO500U is from the O-500 series which is the basis for the Super Padron city bus.
The low-floor vehicle can accommodate city bus bodies with a length of up to 13.2m and offers space for up to 86 passengers. It is driven by wheel hub motors on the rear axle.
The chassis was completely developed in Brazil and put through intensive tests by engineers in Germany and Brazil.
Mercedes-Benz do Brasil is the largest bus and truck manufacturer in Latin America.
The bus plant was opened in 1956.