Hattrick for Daimler Buses: The Mercedes-Benz eCitaro fuel cell won first place in the international electric bus comparison test of the Omnibusspiegel trade magazine and thus received the “Electric Fuel Cell Bus Champion 2026” award. The coveted award goes to a bus bearing the three-pointed star for the third party. At the same time, this victory for the eCitaro fuel cell marks a premiere: for the first time in the history of the renowned test, fuel cell buses competed against each other. Among the five vehicles participating in this drive technology, the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro fuel cell clearly prevailed. The winner was selected by a top-class jury from international trade media as well as representatives of transport companies and their associations.
News 2026
approx.
15 April 2026
eCitaro fuel cell is “Electric Fuel Cell Bus Champion 2026”
Leinfelden-Echterdingen/Berlin - April 2026
- Hattrick for Daimler Buses in the electric bus comparison test of the bus mirror
- Award presented at Bus2Bus in Berlin
- Technology with range advantage
- Successful series consistently continued
- Heinz Friedrich, Managing Director Sales & Service Germany: “This victory confirms that the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro fuel cell is not only technologically pioneering, but also convincing in a tough practical comparison.”
award at Bus2Bus in Berlin.
Dieter Hanke, publisher and editor-in-chief of Omnibusspiegel, and Kirsten Krämer, editor of Omnibusspiegel, presented the award at the Bus2Bus trade fair in Berlin to Heinz Friedrich, Head of Sales & Service Germany at Daimler Buses.
“This victory means a lot to us - especially because it was won in the first fuel cell comparison test of the bus mirror,” said Heinz Friedrich. "It confirms that the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro fuel cell is not only technologically pioneering, but also convincing in a tough practical comparison. This is a clear message for our customers: with the eCitaro fuel cell, they are relying on a vehicle that meets the highest demands for range, reliability and passenger comfort."
At the Bus2Bus trade fair in Berlin, Kirsten Krämer (left) and Dieter Hanke (right) from Omnibusspiegel magazine presented the “Electric Fuel Cell Bus Champion 2026” award for the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro fuel cell to Heinz Friedrich, Managing Director of Sales & Service Germany at Daimler Buses (centre).
Technology with range advantage.
The eCitaro fuel cell combines a fully electric drive with a fuel cell as a range extender. The fuel cell continuously generates electricity while driving and thus supplies the high-voltage batteries, which gives the city bus a significantly greater range compared to purely battery-electric vehicles and enables additional flexibility in operation. This makes it particularly suitable for demanding lines with long turnaround times.
Successful series consistently continued.
Daimler Buses had already won the title of “Electric Bus Champion” in 2023 and 2024: first with the eCitaro in the solobus version, then with the eCitaro G as an articulated bus. With the triumph of the eCitaro fuel cell, the company is now continuing this successful series and underlining its leading role in the electrification of public transport.
