The company has several patented features making up its bellows and towards the end of this year it will bring to market its new articuated chassis system for buses.

It is designed for commercial vehicle fuel cell engines (150-200 kW) but can also be applied to larger engines (240-260 kW) under turbine energy recovery.

Daimler Buses has set itself a range of ambitious targets for 2030, including achieving an adjusted return on sales of nine percent by the end of the decade and eight percent by as early as 2025 (2023: adjusted return on sales of 4.7%). Overall, the business segment is set to become more lean and therefore profitable in order to shoulder the investment into electrification.

The funding is being allocated to the government’s Zero Emission Buses Regional Area (ZEBRA, now ZEBRA 2) Scheme, initially launched in 2021 to allow local transport authorities to bid for funding for zero-emission buses and supporting infrastructure.

Due to the next-generation battery technology supplied by Polish battery company Impact Clean Power Technology, ADL has increased its “warrantable energy throughput” of its next-gen electric buses (Enviro400EV and Enviro100EV).

The first vehicle is being tested over 2,500 kilometres on the streets of Plzeň, after which it will be delivered to the customer later this year.

This has been made possible through the rollout of telematics hardware and constant software updates to its global digital platform on all of its vehicle brands. These services are offered through Mercedes-Benz Trucks Uptime, Fleetboard or OmniPlus in Europe, Truckconnect in Asia and Detroit Connect branded solutions in North America.

With two new functions – a camera and ‘Smart Scan’ – the technician can automatically acquire the vehicle number and access fault codes read from the vehicle, such as OEM service bulletins, recall data, and repair tips.

According to the EU, the dates of application depend on vehicle type: “30 months for new types of cars and vans, and 42 months for new cars and vans. 48 months for new types of buses, trucks and trailers, and 60 months for new buses, lorries and trailers. 30 months for new systems, components or separate technical units to be fitted in cars and vans, and 48 months for those to be fitted in buses, lorries and trailers.”

The company says that, over the last few years, it has implemented an “ambitious strategic roadmap” towards becoming a “leading player” in sustainable and connected mobility.

On 2 October 2023, Behr and Hella agreed to sell their respective 50% stakes in the company to AUO for EUR600m.

Voith HySTech GmbH is based at the group’s site in Garching in the state of Bavaria, where hydrogen storage tanks made from carbon composites are currently being made.