Daimler Buses has unveiled its first battery-electric intercity bus, the Mercedes-Benz eIntouro, as a near-production prototype. This marks a significant step in electrifying regional public transport between urban and rural areas. With a range of up to 500 kilometers, the eIntouro is designed for longer routes and higher average speeds, such as those on country roads, making it a compelling option compared to traditional electric city buses.
The bus features LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries, the same technology used in the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 long-haul truck, as part of a shared components strategy with its parent company, Daimler Truck. This approach aims to enhance profitability for Daimler Buses.
Customers will be able to place orders for the new electric intercity bus starting in early 2025, with the series production model set to debut at the “Busworld” trade fair in Brussels in October 2025. Deliveries to customers are scheduled to begin in 2026.
The announcement was made during the “Daimler Buses eMobility Days,” a multi-day event in Berlin focused on the future of electric mobility.
In addition, Daimler Buses has also presented further innovations: The new “NMC4” (nickel-manganese-cobalt) battery generation with higher energy density will be available for all eCitaro models from 2026. In addition, customers can now also operate the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro fuel cell city bus exclusively with hydrogen using a new operating mode. The vehicle can thus be used completely independently of any electric charging infrastructure. Daimler Buses is also seeing a high demand for turnkey depot conversions: In 2024 alone, the company was awarded around 20 new projects together with experts from its wholly owned subsidiary Daimler Buses Solutions GmbH.
As Till Oberwörder, CEO of Daimler Buses, said: “We are electrifying the important passenger transport segment between urban centers and rural regions with our new Mercedes-Benz eIntouro intercity bus. This is the next step in advancing the transformation towards the nationwide use of locally CO2-neutral buses. Our eCitaro city bus has been in series production since 2018 and, along with our customers, has since introduced the electric drive system to public transport in numerous cities. We are convinced that this success story will continue in the intercity segment.”
Till Oberwörder continues: “Like the eCitaro, our customers will predominantly charge the eIntouro in the evenings at the depot. However, you can also use the eIntouro for excursions and short trips – provided, however, that there are sufficient charging stations available at service areas, tourist attractions, sports facilities or amusement parks. The requirement for infrastructure will increase even further, it must be developed at a faster rate. This is our plea to policy makers and all those involved.”
The eIntouro is optionally available with one or two battery packs, each with a nominal capacity of 207 kWh. In addition to traditional intercity routes, the new bus can therefore also be used for short trips, shuttle transport, excursions or school bus services. The two batteries can be fully charged with up to 300 kW within 90 minutes; with just one battery pack, this can even be achieved in just 70 minutes. In addition, over 95 percent of the installed capacity can be utilized with LFP technology. The batteries in the eIntouro offer a service life of up to 15 years, depending on the respective applications.
The Mercedes-Benz eIntouro is available in two variants. With a length of between 12.18 meters and 13.09 meters as well as a seating capacity of 50 to a maximum of 63, the vehicle offers just as much space as the conventionally powered variant. This makes it possible for this vehicle to replace a diesel-powered intercity bus like for like.
Daimler Buses is also introducing a new electronics architecture with the eIntouro. For the first time, this will enable over-the-air (OTA) software updates for buses without the need to visit a workshop. This can reduce workshop visits and improve vehicle availability. The vision is to use the technology in all of the manufacturer’s future bus/touring coach models. As of today, Daimler Buses will be the first bus/touring coach manufacturer in Europe that can offer this technology.
 batteries, the same technology found in the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 long-haul truck. This shared components strategy with parent company Daimler Truck is designed to boost profitability for Daimler Buses){kind=link}