Mercedes-Benz OC 500 LE
| Mercedes-Benz OC 500 LE | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz (EvoBus) |
| Assembly |
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| Body and chassis | |
| Doors | 1 or 2 doors |
| Floor type | Low entry |
| Related |
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| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission |
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| Dimensions | |
| Length | 10.8 metres/11.2 metres/11.7 metres/12.0 metres/12.8 metres/13.5 metres (bodied) |
| Width | 2.5m |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Mercedes-Benz O405N/O405NH |
The Mercedes-Benz OC 500 LE is a modular, heavy-duty, twin-axle bus chassis produced by Mercedes-Benz/EvoBus Ibérica, Spain. It was designed as a modular platform for low-entry city, suburban, and intercity buses with a maximum gross vehicle weight of 19.1 tonnes. The main modules consist of: 1) driver's pedestal, 2) front axle, 3) buggy centre section, 4) drive axle and 5) engine. It has much in common with the chassis used for the Mercedes-Benz Citaro integral bus range, and also the raised floor OC 500 RF coach chassis. The engine is horizontally mounted over the rear overhang.
Mercedes-Benz in Brazil manufacture a low-entry chassis known as the O 500 U, which is related to the OC 500 LE, but is not identical. It is also available as the articulated O 500 UA and the quad-axle articulated O 500 UDA, with the latter giving a vehicle length of 23 metres. The O 500 U is also available in Australia, marketed as O 500U.
Initially available with Euro III engines, the OC 500 LE chassis got upgraded to Euro IV, Euro V and EEV-compliant diesel engines using AdBlue Selective Catalytic Reduction technology. With Euro IV, Euro V and EEV, the 252 hp rating of the OM 457 hLA was discontinued, making the 299 hp engine as standard for the OC 500 LE. It is also available with the OM 936 engine in Euro VI markets.
Currently, Mercedes-Benz only offers a ZF EcoLife 6-speed automatic transmission with integrated hydraulic retarder (model 6 AP 1200 B for the 252 hp CNG engine or model 6 AP 1400 B for the 299 hp diesel engine). Previously available was the Voith D864.3E 4-speed automatic transmission as well as the ZF Ecomat 5 HP 502/592 5-speed and 6 HP 502/592 6-speed automatic transmissions.
Large numbers of buses built on the OC 500 LE chassis can be found in Australia, where it is marketed as the O 500LE.
Transperth operate 540 Volgren bodied examples, 474 being CNG powered. There have been 15 OC 500 LE CNG fires in Perth, and in October 2013, the Public Transport Authority commenced legal action against Mercedes-Benz, Evobus and Volgren. The action was dropped in 2014.
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Wikipedia