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43 www.autosubindustry.comMannheim %u2013 Racktours GmbH & Co. KG, based in Erlensee near Hanau, has taken delivery today of three new all-electric Mercedes%u2011Benz eCitaro solo buses. The twelve-meter vehicles were handed over by Sinisa Ristic, Sales Mercedes%u2011Benz Buses at Daimler Buses, to Racktours Managing Director Benjamin Elsner, Operations Manager Robert Wiebel, Senior Owner Uwe Viel, and Christian Sch%u00e4dler, Head of Operations, Quality & Customer Management. This makes the long-established company one of the first privately operated bus companies in Hessen to deploy Mercedes%u2011Benz electric buses in scheduled service. Racktours chose the eCitaro for several reasons: in addition to the vehicles%u2019 efficiency, reliability, and sustainability, the company%u2019s management was also convinced by Daimler Buses%u2019 extensive service network.The new electric buses will be operating in the Main-Kinzig district on behalf of KVG Main-Kinzig mbH. Over the past five years, Racktours has acquired more than 21 new buses from Daimler Buses%u2014primarily Mercedes%u2011Benz models. With this handover, the company is now receiving its first battery-electric vehicles.All vehicles are equipped with the latest generation of NMC 4 high-voltage batteries. Two of the buses feature five battery packs, providing a total capacity of 555 kWh. The third vehicle is equipped with six battery packs, reaching a maximum capacity of 666 kWh.In addition, the vehicles offer an extensive range of safety and comfort features. These include the digital MirrorCam system, a rearview camera, full interior video monitoring, and advanced driver assistance systems such as Sideguard Assist 2, Frontguard Assist, Traffic Sign Assist, and Attention Assist 2 with infrared camera. Each vehicle is also equipped with two charging sockets, located above the front flap on the right-hand side and above the right front axle. Visually, the new eCitaro buses feature a green exterior paint finish combined with blue seat upholstery. Racktours%u2019 history dates back to 1945. Founder Karl Rack began operations immediately after World War II with a roadworthy Mercedes%u2011Benz bus and, as early as October 1945, supported Deutsche Kraftpost in rebuilding scheduled transport services. In 2003, under the second generation, the company adopted its current name Racktours GmbH & Co. KG. Today, the company employs 114 people, including three apprentices training as professional drivers.