In a move which indicates that the Daimler Bus division is going electric, the German automaker has recently unveiled a new all-electric bus --- the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro. The unveiling of eCitaro is an apparent indication of Daimler’s substantial investment for launching electrified versions of its heavy vehicles.

The eCitaro battery-electric bus will be an electrified version of Mercedes-Benz’s diesel-powered Citaro bus, which the automaker claims is the best-selling city bus in the world, with its sales figures reaching “more than 50,000 units.”

In unveiling the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro, Daimler has revealed that the vehicle will not merely bring an electric powertrain to Citaro diesel bus, but will also involve a number of other notable upgrades, including some “optical tricks” which will lend “perfect proportions” to eCitaro and make it appear light.

According to Daimler, the upgrades marking eCitaro will include “an elegant roof-edge ridge” made of a multi-piece extruded aluminium profile, a “glossy black lower segment,” and an upper segment painted in the colour of the vehicle.

Daimler has also revealed that the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro electric bus will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries which will be modular in design and have a total capacity of “up to about 243 kWh.” The automaker also said that the range of the eCitaro will be “150 kilometres in the summer” and “up to 250 km in ideal conditions.”