Daimler Buses has begun customer testing of its upcoming electric intercity bus, the eIntouro, ahead of its world premiere at the Busworld trade fair in Brussels this October. A near-series prototype completed a 380-kilometre round trip in Switzerland and Germany with Eurobus, which will be among the first customers once the vehicle enters production in 2026.
The test drive, conducted in early April, followed a regular Eurobus route from Bassersdorf in Switzerland to the Europa-Park in Rust, Germany. Daimler Buses said the eIntouro’s two high-voltage batteries, offering a combined capacity of 414 kWh, had ample reserves to cover the nearly 200-kilometre one-way distance in varying weather conditions, including use of air conditioning or heating systems.
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“Together with Europa-Park, we are working on concepts to make Rustexpress journeys even more climate-friendly,” said Thomas Knecht, owner of the Knecht Group, which operates Eurobus. “The Mercedes‑Benz eIntouro is the first electric bus to meet our requirements in terms of seating, equipment, ride comfort and range.”
Currently, Eurobus uses diesel-powered coaches on the ‘Rustexpress’ route, which shuttles visitors from several regions of Switzerland to Europa-Park. In 2023, more than 60,000 passengers were transported. The planned switch to electric vehicles aligns with Eurobus’ broader push for sustainable intercity travel, building on its experience operating electric buses in local public transport.
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Additional customer testing is expected ahead of the market launch. Daimler Buses has also subjected the eIntouro to extreme weather trials, recently driving a prototype more than 3,000 kilometres from Neu-Ulm, Germany to the Arctic Circle in Finland for winter performance testing.
The eIntouro shares its platform with the diesel-powered Intouro high-floor bus and is intended for classic intercity routes, school bus services, and short-distance travel. It will be available in two lengths—12.18 metres and 13.09 metres (eIntouro M)—and will offer seating configurations ranging from 50 to 63 passengers. Daimler Buses also emphasized that the eIntouro is the first European bus to allow over-the-air software updates without the need for a workshop visit.