MercedesBenz
The cockpit is fully functioning, and can be easily adapted to suit your specific needs. The steering column is adjustable for height and rake, for example. Your designers also have plenty of scope in the cockpit because there is no conventional gearshift lever to interfere with their ideas.
Flexibility
Flexible in any direction
Design a customised driver’s workstation. Thanks to its extraordinary flexibility, the OC 500 RF makes it easy for you to tailor the cockpit to your precise requirements.
The driver’s workstation in the OC 500 RF is fully functional and can easily be adapted to your requirements. The steering column, for example, can be adjusted in height and inclination. There is no conventional gearshift lever in the cockpit, which offers your designers greater scope to implement their ideas. Instead the driver has a joystick with pneumatic shifting aid on the right of the seat. High precision and smooth travel ensure gearshifting comfort to rival that of a passenger car. Thanks to integrated emergency-running characteristics, the vehicle remains roadworthy even if the gearshift should fail. The variable location of the joystick also has ergonomic benefits. Easy to reach and operate, it eases the driver’s workload and helps to ensure full concentration on the road ahead – a key contribution to driving safety.
Safety
First class handling comfort
The front axle with independent suspension stabilises your vehicle body, preventing roll movement and ensuring vehicle track stability. It also helps to maximise manoeuvrability for your bus. 12 metre two-axle vehicle, for example, can achieve a turning circle of 20.98 m depending on body type.
Depending on the body type, a three-axle 15 m coach or inter-urban bus has a turning circle of 23.9 metres. The chassis can also be equipped with a raising/lowering mechanism to protect the vehicle underbody from damage when driving over obstacles or uneven surfaces.
Exact steering
Drivers like buses with light, direct steering characteristics. The OC 500 RF is designed with this in mind. The variable steering gear is mounted in front of the moving axle components, outside the area vulnerable to crash damage, and is therefore protected against damage in the event of an accident. The steering system requires no lubrication and is practically maintenance-free.
A safe braking system
Safety plays a key role with the OC 500 LE. That’s why the electropneumatic braking system (EBS) with disc brakes all round is included as standard. EBS builds up brake pressure so precisely and rapidly that shorter braking and stopping distances are possible compared with conventional pneumatic braking systems. The EBS also features electronic "guardian angels" such as ABS or (optionally) ASR. The standard-specification Brake Assist (BA) system also provides valuable help. It builds up maximum brake pressure in fractions of a second during emergency braking and ensures a shorter braking and stopping distance.
EBS makes braking as cost-effective as it is safe. Its electronic control functions extend the service life of the brake pads and ensure longer service intervals. Since the electronics systems routinely perform fully automatic system checks, the entire braking system requires virtually no maintenance between regular vehicle services – at the same time providing optimum functional reliability.
Ergonomics
Focussed intelligence
The OC 500 RF electronics system sets it apart from other chassis. It has a central "brain", the IES CAN (integrated electronics system controller area network), in which all electronic components are integrated. All control units can be monitored easily using the IES onboard diagnostics system. This facilitates rapid and targeted troubleshooting for maintenance or repair.
This helps to reduce costs for the bus/coach operator by cutting downtime and maintenance time. Other plus factors include uniform interfaces for your electronics system, and a modular electrical equipment compartment with standardised slots at the driver’s workstation. All electronics systems are coded to avoid confusion. This ensures that your body’s electrical system can be connected flexibly and without complication. It also gives you greater flexibility when positioning and installing your electronic components.
