Mercedes eIntouro will be available for orders in early 2025. Daimler first intercity e-bus runs on LFP batteries by CATL

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”.

ZF Cetrax is powering Daimler Buses intercity e-bus

Daimler Buses has turned to the central Cetrax drive from ZF for the eIntouro model. The motor offers a continuous output of 320 kW. The drive power is transferred to the Mercedes-Benz RO 440 drive axle via a fully automatic three-speed transmission integrated into the drive unit.

This configuration, the OEM underlines, means that a high proportion of parts are shared with the conventional Intouro, thus enabling a high level of availability and cost-effectiveness in operation. 

At the driver seat, the instruments designed for the all-electric drive correspond to the displays familiar from the eCitaro. A power meter replaces the rev counter and indicates the current power requirement or recuperation. The driver also receives information about the charge level of the batteries. They can also call up the range, power availability and a charge indicator via the central display. 

Mercedes eIntouro safety features

What about safety features? The optional emergency braking assistant Active Brake Assist 6 (ABA 6) can react to cyclists and people who are crossing the road, approaching the vehicle or walking in the vehicle’s lane with automatic emergency braking. Sideguard Assist 2 monitors not only the front passenger side, but also the driver’s side. At speeds above 30 km/h, Sideguard Assist 2 also assumes the role of a lane change assistant. It notifies the driver about an object on either the driver’s side or the front passenger side up to the maximum permitted speed. New safety features by Daimler Buses were presented at Busworld 2023.

Frontguard Assist monitors the traffic area in front of the vehicle and can warn the driver of people or obstacles when pulling away.

The eIntouro’s standard equipment package, fulfilling the GSR2 regulation, also includes the intelligent speed limit assistant Traffic Sign Assist, the Tyre Pressure Monitoring system (TPM), the Attention Assist system (AtAs), an interface for the use of alcohol testers in the driver’s workplace and a reversing camera. As an alternative to the reversing camera, companies can choose the optional 360° camera system. 

Over-the-air updates available on the Mercedes eIntouro

What is also quite interesting, with the Mercedes-Benz eIntouro, Daimler Buses claims it become the first bus manufacturer in Europe to present a bus that is compatible with over-the-air updates. This term refers to software updates that are transmitted to the vehicle via mobile phone network, updating the system without the need for a workshop visit as was previously the case. The updates are controlled via the digital Omniplus On Portal.

How will this work? “If an update is available, the fleet manager receives a message and can then release individual vehicles for the update. The desired time for the installation can also be selected in the portal. In any case, installation only takes place when the vehicle is stationary, the parking brake is applied and drive-ready state is switched off. No Internet connection is required during installation”, in the OEM’s words. 

This innovative technology is made possible by the eIntouro’s new electronics architecture, which facilitates secure two-way communication and enables any updates to be transmitted via mobile phone connection, the group states. This means that the software in all of the vehicle’s control units can be kept up to date at all times without the vehicle needing to be brought to a workshop. This reduces the number of workshop visits and improves vehicle availability.