The large number of variants has recently increased even further thanks to the Citaro hybrid – also as the Citaro NGT hybrid with a natural-gas engine – and the fully electrically powered eCitaro. The classic is the 12.14 metre long Citaro solo bus. It is framed by the compact Citaro K and the Citaro G articulated bus. For maximum passenger capacity the four-axle large-capacity CapaCity and CapaCity L buses are recommended; they are derived from the Citaro. The Citaro Ü and Citaro GÜ do the inter-city transport. As a low-entry model the Citaro LE combines the advantages of a barrier-free front section with a high-floor tail end.

The proof: Mercedes‑Benz recently built Citaro number 55,555, 2 years after the premiere of the first-generation low-floor city bus. The anniversary vehicle was an eCitaro, which is currently the focus of attention. Its drive system is built on an electric portal axle with electric motors on the wheel hubs. The peak output of the engines is 2 x 125 kW, the torque at the driven wheels 2 x 11,000 Nm. Lithium-ion batteries with an overall capacity of up to 292 kWh take care of the power supply. They consist of a maximum of twelve modules. Thanks to highly advanced thermal management the eCitaro achieves tremendous energy efficiency.

With the maximum amount of batteries fitted the eCitaro achieves a system‑relevant range of around 170 kilometres, even in difficult conditions, 365 days a year.

With its charging technology the eCitaro can be adapted individually to particular applications. At series introduction it started out with charging via plugs. In future, as announced, it will also be optionally chargeable via a current collector (pantograph) if intermediate charging is required. Initially the eCitaro will now optionally be equipped with an integral current collector. In this case it can be fitted with up to ten battery modules. In 2020, a variant with charging rails on the roof for charging via charging stations with integrated contact arms will be available.

These are examples of the steps in the announced innovation initiative with the eCitaro for rapid and practically-oriented electrification of local public transport with buses in cities and conurbations. The further timetable has been laid out: the next generation of lithium-ion batteries currently used, with a greater capacity, will be made available to customers as early as 2020/2021. During the second half of the year 2020, solid-state batteries with an especially long service life and high energy density will be in use.

The eCitaro family also continues to grow. With the eCitaro G Mercedes‑Benz will extend the range of fully electrically powered eCitaro models to include an articulated bus variant. It meets the requirement for locally emission-free mobility in highly trafficked cities and metropolitan regions with a high volume of passengers and traffic. Subsequently, it is anticipated that the range of the eCitaro will be increased yet again, this time by means of a range extender in the form of a fuel cell for generating electricity from the year 2022. It will be designed to allow the eCitaro to fulfil nearly 100 percent of all requirements on city buses. Intermediate charging is superfluous with this technology – the eCitaro will be able to replace city buses with a combustion engine virtually one to one.