The public transport operator Asti Servizi Pubblici S.p.A. (ASP S.p.A.) in the Italian Piedmont region receives the first battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro K buses that have been manufactured since the start of series production in autumn 2024. The four compact premiere vehicles with a length of just 10.63 metres have been handed over together with 12 eCitaro12-metre regular-service buses as result of a tender. In addition, another eCitaro solo bus was ordered in autumn 2024. This means that ASP S.p.A. will have a total of 17 new battery-electric regular-service vehicles at its disposal in the future.
The handover ceremony and premiere of the eCitaro K was attended by numerous high-ranking personalities from politics and business, as well as Maurizio Rasero, the Mayor of Asti, and representatives of Daimler Buses. With a turning circle of only 17.28 metres, thanks to a wheelbase of 4398 millimetres, the four compact 10.63-metre eCitaro K vehicles of ASP S.p.A. are particularly suitable for application in local public transport with narrow, winding routes in the city centre and suburbs of Asti. The four eCitaro K are quipped with six NMC3 battery packs each with a maximum capacity of 588 kilowatt hours (kWh) and can achieve a range of around 400 kilometres under favourable conditions. The electric buses are charged overnight at charging sockets in the Italian transport company's depot. The air-conditioning system is equipped with a heat pump. The four eCitaro
K vehicles have 26 seats and 54 standing places as well as a wheelchair space. They therefore offer space for 81 passengers (plus driver). A digital video surveillance system in conjunction with active filters with an antiviral function in the interior and numerous modern safety and assistance systems are installed. These include Brake Assist, Sideguard Assist 2, Frontguard Assist, Traffic Sign Assist and Attention Assist. The buse are delivered together with an Omniplus eServiceContract with a term of 12 years. The new eCitaro for Asti already has the Bus Data Centre installed on board as standard as an interface to the digital services from Omniplus. Asti Servizi Pubblici S.p.A. is a multi-utility company. The main services offered are transport and mobility, water supply, waste disposal and other public services. The bus fleet currently comprises 47 vehicles.