Mercedes eIntouro will be available for orders in first quarter of 2025. The near-production prototype of the BEV version of Daimler Buses’ intercity bus has been presented today at eMobility Days 2024 in Berlin, where a series of other novelties have been presented (including new battery partner for NMC4 technology). The eIntouro will be officially launched at Busworld Europe 2025, with deliveries beginning in 2026. Production sites? France and Istanbul. This launch marks the debut of Daimler Buses in the nascent intercity electric bus market.
Interestingly enough, it’s equipped with a different set of battery and driveline than the eCitaro range, made of LFP batteries and central motor by ZF. It’ll be produced in the OEM’s plants in Turkey and in France.
Two lengths are available: the 12.18-metre eIntouro and the 13.09-metre eIntouro M. Seating variants from 50 to a maximum of 63 seats are covered.
The near-production prototype of the all-electric Mercedes eIntouro interurban bus is based on the diesel-powered Intouro, but is equipped with a battery-electric drive with LFP batteries and a central motor instead. As a result, Daimler Buses is able to switch to electric mobility for the first time for interurban routes, school buses, shuttle buses and excursion routes, as well as for short trips.
The launch of the eIntouro alignes with Daimler Buses e-mobility roadmap: the group plans to have a battery electric powered intercity bus in its portfolio from the second half of the decade (and electrically powered coaches by the end of the decade).
CATL LFP batteries for the Mercedes eIntouro
The new Mercedes eIntouro is available with a choice of one or two battery packs, each with a capacity of 207 kWh. The maximum total capacity is 414 kWh. According to the information released today at Daimler Buses eMobility Days event 2024 in Berlin, the first battery pack is always located in the space behind the front axle to ensure optimum weight distribution. The optional second battery is located in the former engine compartment at the rear.
“The batteries and many of the high-voltage components in the new eIntouro have already been successfully installed in the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros long-haul truck“, Daimler Buses says. It means: batteries are now sourced by CATL.
This marks a change compared to traditional Daimler Buses’ partner Akasol (now BorgWarner), provider of modules on the eCitaro, although 4th generation batteries for the city bus range will be also provided by another supplier, as announced in the same eMobility Days 2024 event.
Resons for switching to LFP technology? In Daimler Buses’ words: “The LFP cell chemistry performs very well in terms of calendar ageing, which means that a service life of up to 15 years can be achieved in individual applications. In contrast to other battery cell technologies, more than 95 percent of the installed capacity can also be used in the case of LFP technology. This allows for longer ranges with the same installed battery capacity”.
