Electric mobility for buses was the focus of Daimler Buses’ eMobility Days 2.0, an event held in Berlin in November 2024. For the second time since 2022, the company invited journalists and bus operators from all over Europe to learn about the latest vehicles with electric and hydrogen drives as well as the latest technologies and services from the field of eMobility.
Omnibus Magazine
eMobility Days 2.0: six highlights.
Focussing on electric mobility.
eMobility Days 2.0: six highlights.
Focussing on electric mobility.
Impressive agenda.
Once again Daimler Buses' eMobility Days 2.0 reiterated a clear message: the future of public bus transport is electric. The event was held at the repurposed Dresdner Bahnhof railway station facility in Berlin and was all about electric buses, new battery technologies and new services specifically for eMobility for transport companies and bus fleets. More than 500 bus operators, transport company employees, association representatives, policymakers and journalists from around 30 European countries accepted the invitation to Berlin. In four workshops dubbed “Deep Dives”, participants had the opportunity to find out about the innovations and services relating to Mercedes-Benz electric buses in depth. Guests were also able to participate in the event on a digital platform.
“Despite tough global competition in the field of electromobility, we are investing in our European plants and we are the only German bus manufacturer that also develops and produces in Germany.”
Electromobility developed and produced in Germany.
At the start of eMobility Days 2.0, Till Oberwörder, CEO of Daimler Buses, highlighted the importance of electromobility not only for climate protection, but also for Daimler Buses and for Germany as a whole. "At Daimler Buses, we're applying all of our engineering prowess to ensure that Germany remains a technological leader and that the EU remains competitive. That’s why, despite the tough global competition in the field of electromobility, we are also investing in our European plants and we are the only German bus manufacturer that also develops and produces in Germany."
Highlight 1: eIntouro – series production-quality prototype and initial information.
The introductory speeches were followed by the highlight of eMobility Days 2.0: Till Oberwörder and Mirko Sgodda presented the series production-quality prototype of Daimler Buses' first fully electric intercity bus – the Mercedes-Benz eIntouro. Till Oberwörder: "During the development process, we focussed on two things: first, we wanted to ensure that our customers switching from the conventional Intouro won't miss out on anything. On the contrary: our aim was to make the eIntouro even quieter, producing fewer vibrations as well as, of course, fewer emissions. We also wanted to guarantee an adequate range for the diverse deployment profiles in the intercity segment. We've managed to achieve both these things."
Ready for series production in 2026: the new Mercedes-Benz eIntouro.
The series production-quality prototype of the fully electric Mercedes-Benz eIntouro intercity bus is based on the well-known diesel-powered Intouro and is scheduled to go into series production in 2026 with a length of 12.18 metres or, as the eIntouro M, with a length of 13.09 metres. It can be used in a wide range of applications, not only in intercity scheduled service, but also as a school bus, an airport shuttle bus, a shuttlebus for factory transportation or for excursions and short trips. The electrically powered eIntouro will use the batteries with lithium iron phosphate cell technology and other components from the fully electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 long-haul truck, and will have a range of 500 kilometres with two battery packs. *
“With over-the-air updates, our buses will spend even less time in the workshop and be even more reliable in operation.”
Over-the-air updates as a technology highlight.
In the eIntouro, software updates can be installed “over the air”, i.e. via the mobile phone network and without having to visit a workshop. This technology, which is already familiar from smartphones and electric cars, will now, for the first time, also be available in a European bus. Mirko Sgodda: "Over-the-air updates will, in the future, enable us to update our buses to the latest software quickly and without having to visit a workshop. As a result, the buses will spend even less time in the workshop and be even more reliable in operation."
Highlight 2: eCitaro fuel cell – now also powered exclusively with H2.
The focus of the third workshop of eMobility Days 2.0 was on the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro fuel cell. In addition to the drive batteries, it is also equipped with a hydrogen-powered fuel cell as a range extender. Because hydrogen is usually more expensive today than mains electricity, the eCitaro fuel cell uses the batteries as the main power source and the fuel cell is used to extend the range. However, for transport operators who prefer to use green hydrogen instead of mains electricity as an energy source, Daimler Buses is now expanding the application possibilities of the eCitaro fuel cell: in future, it will also be able to run exclusively with hydrogen as an energy source. And so, stopping to recharge will become a thing of the past! The new H2 mode manages the energy supply in such a way that the fuel cell operates in the economical, medium power range, keeping the battery charge level at a steady 60%.
Highlight 3: eCitaro K – eMobility in compact format.
Daimler Buses is expanding the eCitaro model range and is now offering a short version of the popular all-electric low-floor bus with the 10.63-metre Mercedes-Benz eCitaro K in addition to the 12.14-metre eCitaro and the 18.13-metre eCitaro G. With a turning circle of just 17.28 metres, the compact eCitaro K feels at home on narrow, winding routes in suburbs and old urban quarters. It really comes into its own in operations with manageable passenger numbers. With a maximum battery load of 588 kWh in the current NMC3 version, the eCitaro K guarantees a range of around 400 kilometres under favourable conditions. The eCitaro K is available with either two or three doors. **
70,000 Citaro: anniversary bus handed over to customer HTM.
Daimler Buses also used eMobility Days 2.0 to celebrate a record-breaking anniversary: since its premiere in 1997, 70,000 units of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro low-floor city bus have rolled off the production line. Till Oberwörder and Sales Manager Mirko Sgodda handed over the anniversary bus – a fully electric eCitaro – to Karen Bosch, COO at HTM Personenvervoer N.V., The Hague, The Netherlands. This vehicle, the 70,000th Citaro, is not only proof of Daimler Buses' innovative prowess and the trust that our customers have in our product, but also a testament to our commitment to a more sustainable future", said Till Oberwörder at the symbolic key handover.
Highlight 4: NMC4 – latest battery technology for the eCitaro.
In another workshop, experts from Daimler Buses presented the fourth generation of lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC4) batteries. It will combine a high energy density, which enables greater ranges for electric buses, with a very long service life. Regardless of whether a gentle charging process with a maximum charging capacity of 150 kW is used or regular quick charging processes with a charging capacity of up to 300 kW are implemented, this battery can be used for longer. The new NMC4 batteries are identical to the previous NMC3 batteries in terms of installation space and will be used in the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro, eCitaro G, eCitaro K, eCitaro fuel cell and eCitaro G fuel cell low-floor city buses from the beginning of 2026.
Highlight 5: Daimler Buses Solutions – everything from a single source.
The fourth workshop focused on turnkey solutions and digital services for electric buses. Daimler Buses subsidiary Daimler Buses Solutions GmbH advises transport companies and actively accompanies them on their path to electromobility. Customers can thus obtain the entire eMobility ecosystem from a single source on request: from the feasibility analysis to the individually configured electric bus to the complete electric mobility infrastructure.
Highlight 6: Digital services.
Digital services are also becoming increasingly important. The OMNIplus service brand is therefore expanding its range, particularly for electric buses. For example, the OMNIplus ON monitor Performance Analysis, which is currently available for diesel vehicles, will, in the future, also be available for electric buses to evaluate driving styles. Another new feature is OMNIplus ON Battery Monitoring, which provides fleet operators with information on the condition of the high-voltage battery and recommendations for use. In future, OMNIplus will offer software updates for the new eIntouro over the air – no workshop visit necessary!
“eMobility is very important to me. Only together can we achieve the energy transition. We need to look ahead and all play our part. ”
“It's important to keep talking about eMobility, because not all transport companies are currently using electric vehicles. In the past, ranges were often inadequate, and this remains a widely-held belief. However, thanks to technological progress, buses are now always able to complete their planned number of routes. It's important that people are made aware of this. ”
“When it comes to emissions, mobility plays an important role in climate protection. This is especially the case with inner-city transportation, where the relatively short ranges mean that electric vehicles are already being used, which is helping to decarbonise urban traffic. ”
“eMobility is super important to me. We live in Denmark, where we are really trying to change the way we work at a municipal level. Switching from diesel buses to electric buses is a matter that is very close to my heart.”
“eMobility is crucial for securing a sustainable future for public transport. It plays an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, combating climate change and promoting a cleaner urban environment. For OTL, switching to electric vehicles is not only an operational improvement, but also a commitment to a greener future for our community and a better quality of life for the population on a whole. ”
“I’m really looking forward to driving under electric power in The Hague. On the one hand, because we are the first city to run on electric power. But above all, because in this way we are helping to make transportation in the Netherlands' most beautiful city sustainable.”
* The range was determined internally under specific conditions, including equipment with maximum battery capacity, battery in delivery condition, in typical intercity bus operation and moderate weather scenario, and may deviate from the values determined in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/2400, for example. The actual range depends on the individual use of the vehicle, the vehicle configuration and other external factors. Therefore, the actual range may be below or above the specified value.
** The range was determined internally under specific conditions, including equipment with maximum battery capacity, battery in delivery condition, in typical city bus operation and moderate weather scenario, and may deviate from the values determined in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/2400, for example. The actual range depends on the individual use of the vehicle, the vehicle configuration and other external factors. Therefore, the actual range may be below or above the specified value.
