Daimler Bus’ eCitaro electric bus with NMC4 battery launches in Rome
The 110 eCitaro electric buses ordered are due to arrive successively in the eastern periphery of Rome by mid-2026, with Autoservizi Troiani having already put the first ten e-buses from the large order into operation. They arrived in September and will be deployed in the suburbs of Grotte Celoni, Ponte Mammolo, Pantano, Rebibbia, Torre Maura, Esposizione Universale di Roma and other neighbouring districts. The background to this is that Autoservizi Troiani is the new concession holder for the so-called ‘Lot 1 East’ of the Roman suburban bus network.
When the first ten units were delivered, the Italian media were still talking about a total order for 60 eCitaro buses. In an official announcement, however, manufacturer Daimler Buses now refers to 110 units, which will be handed over to Autoservizi Troiani via the sales company Daimler Buses Italia by summer 2026. At the same time, the public transport operator began purchasing 40 Citaro hybrid buses at the start of 2024. The aim is to gradually convert the entire bus fleet to (partially) electric drive variants within five years, according to the statement.
The all-electric vehicles are twelve-metre-long eCitaro buses with three doors and space for up to 73 passengers, 26 of whom can be seated and 47 standing. Other features include a powerful air conditioning system and high-performance particulate filters. The buses are painted in the characteristic Autoservizi Troiani livery with white lettering on a dark red background.
Meanwhile, the order is notable not only because of the three-digit order quantity but also with regard to the batteries: While 65 of the new 110 Mercedes-Benz eCitaro buses for the suburbs of Rome are still equipped with the current NMC3 batteries, 45 units will have the upcoming NMC4 battery generation. Daimler Buses only briefly mentions this fact without going into further details. However, we are not yet aware of any other order for eCitaro buses with NMC4 batteries.
Daimler Buses publicised the fact that this new battery generation is in the works in the spring. Performance data is still not available. However, the new battery should have a higher energy density and therefore go further with the same battery size. It should also have a ‘very long service life’. In terms of cell chemistry, nickel-manganese-cobalt will be retained, although the dosage of the individual battery ingredients may of course change. One thing is clear: the new batteries will be assembled by BMZ Poland, the Gliwice-based subsidiary of BMZ Holding from Karlstein am Main. Daimler Buses is thus saying goodbye to Akasol. The bus manufacturer had previously entrusted battery assembly to the German battery system manufacturer, which was acquired by the US group BorgWarner in 2021.
The NMC3 packs currently roll off the production line at Akasol in Hesse. However, from ‘the middle of the decade’ – according to the original quote in spring – the batteries will then come from Poland. The BMZ subsidiary there was founded in 2010 and is in the process of expanding its production at the Gliwice site as part of the new strategic cooperation with Daimler Buses.
Daimler Buses introduced the current NMC3 battery in September 2022. It is based on cylindrical cells of the 21700 format (21 mm diameter, 70 mm length) with nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry, whereby 600 cells fit into one battery module and nine modules are assembled into a pack. The energy content at the pack level is 98 kWh. Up to six packs (ergo: 588 kWh) can be installed in the twelve-metre-long eCitaro solo bus, and up to seven packs (686 kWh) in the 18-metre-long articulated bus version. This means that Daimler Buses currently guarantees ranges of 280 kilometres for the electric solo bus and 220 kilometres for the corresponding articulated bus. Akasol states that the battery has a service life of up to 4,000 charging cycles.
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