Hartmut Schick, head of Daimler Buses, has handed over the symbolic key for 12 Mercedes-Benz Citaro NGT (natural gas technology) buses to Dr. Walter Casazza, manager of the public utility Augsburger Stadtwerke, in the presence of Mayor Kurt Gribl.
At the ceremonial vehicle delivery at the Augsburg town hall square, Schick emphasized the importance of the new, environmentally friendly natural gas-powered fleet from Mercedes-Benz for Daimler Buses.
“The fact that Augsburger Stadtwerke [chose] the Mercedes-Benz Citaro NGT to update their fleet validates our efforts to continue developing alternatives to the classic diesel drive and to offer these in practical form,” says Schick. “The generation of natural gas engines in use here is currently the most compact in its class. What’s more, these engines run very quietly – something that is particularly advantageous within the city – and they are fully suited for renewable natural gas.”
For more than one year now, Augsburg’s bus fleet has already been using renewable natural gas 100% of the time and is the first city Germany-wide with an almost CO2-neutral regular service. As the most important local public transportation company in the region, Augsburger Stadtwerke currently runs a bus fleet of 89 vehicles, all of which are powered by natural gas.
The 12 Citaro NGT buses are a follow-on delivery to the first Citaro NGT with new engine technology that was delivered in December 2015.
