City buses in Stuttgart have had a number of measures installed to help prevent the spread of infection, including ventilation modules with antiviral filters, protective doors for the drivers and contactless disinfectant dispensers.
Since the onset of Covid-19, Mercedes-Benz has been working to ensure that bus and coach passengers get to school, work or for shopping more safely, and to help drivers avoid infection as far as possible.
The latest installation is EvoFresh ventilation modules featuring integrated fans and air filters with antiviral protection for Citaro and Conecto vehicles, without air-conditioning in the passenger compartment. The modules are mounted below the standard electrically-operated roof hatches on the Citaro and Conecto; two on the solo vehicle and four on the articulated bus.
The new modules are designed to offer multiple functions for optimal ventilation capability. The driver opens the electrically-operated roof hatches against the direction of travel at the push of a button from the cab. When they do so, and the automatic blower is activated, fresh air comes in from the outside, and recirculated air is drawn in from the vehicle, filtered before being sent into the passenger compartment as filtered mixed air.
ventilation modules with antiviral filters
Without activating the intake blower, the roof hatches act as ventilation and assist with rapid air exchange. If the driver opens the roof hatches in the direction of travel, fresh air flows in from the outside.
Furthermore, when the roof hatch is closed – for example at low temperatures during the colder times of the year– the modules filter the circulated air in the passenger compartment effectively when the fans are running.
The system also independently regulates fan speed. The maximum air output per module is 1,350 cubic metres per hour. This provides complete air replenishment in the vehicle within up to two minutes.
EvoFresh modules are available for almost all Citaros with combustion engines and the Conecto, Citaro LE and Citaro GNÜ on request. Retrofitting is in the works, subject to demand.
Mercedes-Benz added its Citaro and Conecto offer a high level of protection against infections, even in times of pandemic, and in all weather conditions.
