110 Mercedes eCitaro electric buses heading for Rome

Autoservizi Troiani, an Italian public transport operator, has ordered 110 electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro buses to deploy in the east part of Rome, which will all be delivered by mid-2026. Part of these e-buses will use the “next-generation” NMC4 batteries, which promise more range and a longer lifespan.

Autoservizi Troiani first ordered 40 hybrid Mercedes Citaro city buses at the beginning of 2024. They seem to have met the Italian public transport company’s expectations, as Troiani has now ordered 110 fully-electric eCitaro models from Daimler Buses as part of its ambition to convert its entire schedule-service bus fleet to electric drive.

280 km range with current-gen batteries

All 110 models on order are 12-meter long eCitaro models, of which 65 will be equipped with the current-generation NMC3 batteries, supplied by BorgWarner. They provide a range of up to 280 km between charges, with space on board for up to 73 passengers, of which 26 can be seated. A manual folding ramp is also present for passengers with limited mobility and parents with child strollers.

Next-gen NMC4 batteries from Poland

Interestingly, the remaining 45 Mercedes eCitaro models ordered by Troiani will get the next-generation NMC4 batteries, which are supplied by the Polish battery systems expert BMZ Poland. No specific details are mentioned yet, but earlier, Daimler Buses said these batteries “will combine high energy density, resulting in a longer range for e-buses, with an ultra-long cycle life”.

These new NMC4 batteries should become available “from the middle of the decade”, which explains why the 110-bus order from Troiani will only be completed by mid-2026.