More Space, More Comfort: Interior, Passenger Compartment and Climate Control in the New City Bus Generation

• New Interior Concept Without a Rear Engine Tower
• Fully Low-Floor: Super Low Floor All the Way to the Rear
• Flexible Passenger Compartment Design: Seating, Standing Areas and Multi-Purpose Space
• New Integrated Interior Ceiling and Continuous Lighting
• ThexMO: New Thermal Management for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
• Refrigerant propane (R290) with a lower global warming potential than R513A.
• More Comfort, Lower Energy Consumption

With the new city bus generation, Daimler Buses has not only redeveloped the drivetrain and vehicle structure from the ground up, but also completely rethought the passenger compartment. Three key innovations define the interior: the traditional rear engine tower has been eliminated, a new integrated roof concept has been introduced, and an entirely new thermal management system ensures an optimal onboard climate. Passengers benefit from increased space and comfort, while operators gain higher energy efficiency.

New Interior Concept Without a Rear Engine Tower

The most noticeable change can be found in the rear section of the vehicle. Where the engine tower previously occupied space, the next-generation eCitaro features an open area. Daimler Buses uses this space to completely redesign the rear of the vehicle and tailor it consistently to the requirements of electric city bus operation. This architecture creates additional design flexibility and significantly improves the usability of the passenger compartment.

Fully Low-Floor: Super Low Floor All the Way to the Rear

Depending on the selected configuration, the rear section of the new generation can be designed as a continuous Super Low Floor area, with no raised platform in the rear and a completely barrier-free interior extending all the way to the back of the vehicle. Alternatively, a raised rear platform layout can still be specified to meet market-specific or comfort-related requirements.

The flat rear area creates additional multifunctional space opposite Door 3 on solo buses and Door 4 on articulated buses, for example for strollers, rollators or luggage. This improves passenger flow and enhances comfort in the rear section of the vehicle. The wheelchair space remains located near Door 2, ensuring that proven operating concepts used by public transport operators remain unchanged. As with the current eCitaro, seating layouts in the successor model can also be individually configured and adapted to operator requirements.

New Integrated Interior Ceiling and Continuous Lighting

The new sandwich roof enables a continuous interior ceiling without cross members, creating a smooth, uninterrupted ceiling surface with fewer joints and component transitions for a more modern and refined interior appearance. The continuous interior lighting is integrated into a multifunctional rail and provides uniform illumination throughout the vehicle without dark areas. This not only enhances passenger comfort but also gives passengers a greater sense of safety and security.

ThexMO: New Thermal Management for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

With ThexMO (Thermal Exchange Module), Daimler Buses introduces a fully integrated thermal management system in the new city bus generation. The system provides both heating and cooling through a propane-based heat pump and completely replaces the conventional R134a and CO₂ refrigerant systems used in the current eCitaro. ThexMO is far more than a conventional rooftop air-conditioning unit. It is a comprehensive thermal management system that combines heating and cooling into a holistic concept for the vehicle, battery, driver and passengers. A key element is the intelligent use of waste heat from the drivetrain and auxiliary systems. Rather than requiring additional electrical power, this waste heat is actively integrated into the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system. For maximum efficiency, the entire HVAC system is designed for an operating range of approximately -10°C to +40°C. The system remains fully functional outside this temperature range, with its operating strategy adapted to the respective ambient conditions.

Roof Integration as a Holistic Concept

In the successor to the eCitaro, HVAC modules and central functional units are strategically consolidated on the roof. The roof architecture is an integral part of the overall vehicle concept rather than simply serving as a mounting platform for individual components. Combining these systems on the roof creates additional usable space both on the roof and in the underfloor area, enabling the installation of additional batteries or alternative vehicle configurations. The system architecture is designed to minimize losses in airflow, heat exchange and condensation processes, thereby improving overall HVAC efficiency.

Refrigerant Propane (R290) With a Lower Global Warming Potential than R513A

The ThexMO system uses a very small quantity of the natural refrigerant propane (R290). The Global Warming Potential (GWP) of propane (R290) is approximately 0.02, compared with around 630 for the previously used refrigerant R513A. As a result, propane already complies with anticipated future European regulatory requirements regarding refrigerants, particularly in view of increasing restrictions on fluorinated refrigerants. This provides operators with long-term investment security throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle.

More Comfort, Lower Energy Consumption

The new thermal management system delivers multiple benefits for operators. By intelligently utilizing waste heat, ThexMO reduces the energy required for heating and cooling, helping to maintain a more consistent vehicle range even under demanding climatic conditions. Because the more efficient thermal management system lowers overall energy consumption throughout the vehicle's service life, ThexMO also contributes positively to the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the next-generation eCitaro. As a result, operators benefit from lower operating costs, while passengers enjoy improved comfort under all weather conditions.