Mercedes-Benz is in the final phase of development of its first all-electric Citaro bus, which will enter series production later this year. The all-electric Mercedes-Benz Citaro takes electric mobility using city buses to a new level altogether. The 12-metre variant will celebrate its world premiere in September at the IAA Commercial Vehicles, with the start of series production coming before the end of the year. The new Citaro offers an impressive and hitherto unknown standard of energy efficiency, courtesy of its innovative thermal management system.

The intelligent modular concept for its battery and charging technology is a similarly compelling proposition. The electric Citaro is also more than simply a city bus: Mercedes-Benz takes a holistic view of electric mobility, embedding the Citaro firmly within its overall eMobility system. This comprises services that range from individual and very practically oriented advice ahead of any purchase and recommendations relating to charging infrastructure through to taking on servicing work at the customer’s own workshop.


The Citaro and the large-capacity CapaCity bus, as well as the Citaro hybrid and the Citaro NGT, provide practical evidence, thousands of time every day, of the highly sophisticated level of development of drive systems with combustion engines. They are characterised by both their efficiency of operation and their low emissions. The all-electric Citaro is now taking the next step from low-emission bus to locally emission-free bus. In doing so, it adds to the range a variant that sets new standards in terms of electric mobility.

The drive system of the new all-electric Citaro is based on the tried and tested ZF AVE 130 electric portal axle with electric motors at the wheel hubs, as previously deployed in other variants of the Citaro. Their peak output of the motors is 2 x 125 kW, while torque is 2 x 485 Nm. It is an inherent feature of such motors that this is fully available right from the start, so ensuring appropriate dynamic performance even with a full complement of passengers.The German manufacturer promises to show the production version in September, as first customers are already awaiting deliveries.


With the maximum complement of ten battery modules, the all-electric Citaro with standard equipment weighs around 13.7 tonnes. In conjunction with a permissible gross vehicle weight of 19.5 tonnes, this corresponds to a payload of 5.8 tonnes or around 80 passengers – even in the rush hour, as is commonly necessary.

With a strengthened offer from Volvo and new players entering market like Scania, Mercedes-Benz joins the party just before it’s too late. What is more, by the time of the series-production start-up, the all-electric Citaro will already have been through a comprehensive programme of testing. This bus has to pass all the same tests as any other bus that bears the three-pointed star, for the Citaro with all-electric drive system will offer the same high level of availability and the proverbial reliability of its stablemates with combustion engine.