Daimler Buses unveils Mercedes eCitaro with NMC4 battery (featuring +13% energy density) at mobility move 2026

Daimler Buses announces it is presenting the Mercedes eCitaro equipped with NMC4 battery generation and an expanded range of eMobility services at mobility move 2026 in Berlin.

At mobility move 2026, held from 10 to 12 March at the Estrel Hotel in Berlin and organized by the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), Daimler Buses is showcasing its latest developments in battery-electric urban transport. The company’s presence focuses on the Mercedes eCitaro fitted with the fourth-generation NMC battery and on integrated digital and infrastructure services under the Omniplus brand.

In particular, Daimler Buses is presenting Omniplus CHARGE, covering consulting, planning, construction and operation of charging and hydrogen infrastructure. The portfolio includes depot works, charging hardware, battery storage, charging management and a Charging-as-a-Service model with infrastructure operation and monthly billing.

Daimler Buses plans are for only locally CO2-neutral new vehicles to be sold in the core market of Europe by 2039. In the city bus segment, this is expected to be the case in Europe as early as 2030. 

Mercedes eCitaro adopts NMC4 battery with 111 kWh per pack

The NMC4 battery represents the fourth generation of lithium nickel manganese cobalt battery technology deployed on the eCitaro platform. It succeeds the NMC3 generation currently in operation and is being introduced in 2026 on the Mercedes eCitaro low-floor city bus range, including the eCitaro, eCitaro K and articulated eCitaro G, as already announced in November 2024.

According to the manufacturer, revised cell chemistry enables an energy density increase of nearly 13 percent compared with NMC3. While the previous generation provides 98 kWh per fully charged battery pack, the NMC4 pack stores 111 kWh within the same installation space. A larger proportion of the stored energy is available for traction purposes.

So far Daimler Buses has been equipping the eCitaro family with batteries from German Akasol (then, from 2021, BorgWarner). Also LMP battery from BlueSolutions was offered as an option in the past. The new battery generation NMC4 for the Mercedes eCitaro range – succeeding the current NMC3 technology by BorgWarner launched in early 2023 is manufactured in collaboration with Polish BMZ.

The structural design of the NMC4 battery packs corresponds to that of the NMC3 generation, allowing installation in existing eCitaro vehicles without vehicle modifications. Retrofitting vehicles already in operation is possible in the event of a full battery pack replacement, Daimler Buses stresses.

Battery configuration options remain aligned with the current eCitaro portfolio. The solo eCitaro and the shorter eCitaro K can be equipped with between four and six battery packs, reaching a total installed capacity of up to 666 kWh. The articulated eCitaro G can be configured with four to seven battery packs, for a maximum capacity of 777 kWh.

With maximum battery configuration, Daimler Buses indicates a range of up to 600 kilometers for the eCitaro and eCitaro K, and up to 450 kilometers for the articulated eCitaro G, depending on operating conditions.

Service life, fast charging capability and battery monitoring

Daimler Buses states that the NMC4 battery is designed for extended service life, including under regular fast-charging conditions. The battery supports charging at up to 150 kW under standard conditions and up to 300 kW during fast charging. The manufacturer provides a 10-year service life guarantee for the NMC4 battery and offers optional extensions of up to 15 years.

The battery management system has been updated to monitor thermal conditions not only during active vehicle operation but also while the battery is in standby mode. This functionality is integrated into the Omniplus ON Battery Monitoring digital service. Since Busworld 2025, the system includes an automatic warning function that initiates a phone call to predefined contacts when a critical event is detected.

At mobility move 2026, Daimler Buses is also presenting its Omniplus CHARGE portfolio, which covers consulting, planning, construction and operation of charging and hydrogen infrastructure. In cooperation with Daimler Buses Solutions GmbH and other partners, the company offers feasibility studies, vehicle configuration, depot construction works, electrical installations, charging hardware, battery storage systems and charging management tools. A Charging-as-a-Service model is included in the portfolio, under which Daimler Buses assumes responsibility for building and operating charging infrastructure with monthly billing to the operator.

The Omniplus ON portal is being showcased with digital services specific to electric buses, including Uptime and Uptime pro remote diagnostics, tracking services, consumption and driving-style analysis, and remote control functions for charging and preconditioning.

Newly delivered Daimler Buses vehicles are supplied with a Digital Services Package providing selected digital services free of charge for a limited period, with electric buses covered for six years. A new feature, Omniplus ON monitor Tracking Services Plus, enables speed-based geofencing with automated activation of the speed limiter based on vehicle position data.