Following the release of the Ebusco 2.2 bus in Melbourne in October, the brand’s busy period increased during the Expo.
The Dutch bus manufacturer officially marked its tenure in Australia with the release of the Ebusco 2.2 electric bus in Melbourne in October. A week later, the shiny new bus was on display in Sydney for the Bus & Coach Expo.
After years of planning for this moment, Ebusco Australia and New Zealand sales director Simon Pearce says he’s excited to see Ebusco’s products gaining traction down under.
“At the Expo we’re proud to show our Ebusco 2.2, which is fully engineered for Australian conditions,” Pearce told ABC. “This is the generation three model of the bus and it arrived in the country around a month and a half ago.
“We had our launch last week in Melbourne which was really successful, and now we’re looking forward to putting the vehicle out on the road.”
With a spacious interior and groundbreaking technology involved in its production, the Ebusco 2.2 is tailored to Australian conditions. Pearce says the Ebusco 2.2 adheres to Australian Design Rules and includes local content in the form of seats, CCTV and air conditioning.
“This is the first of this version of the bus in Australia,” Pearce says. “We now want people to experience it, to put it through its paces so that it can earn its stripes.
Ebusco may only be new to Australia, but its global presence is well-founded. With more than 400 Ebusco buses running around the world, Pearce has helped ensure this market expertise has now found its way into the Australian market.
He says the Ebusco 2.2 comes into its own with its exceptional range capabilities that allows it to run on some of the longest routes in Australia.
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“The model is matched to local conditions – it even has air conditioning already set for the Australian climate,” Pearce says. “The finish of the vehicle is amazing, the quality of componentry is high class and Ebusco, with its partner network, can also provide a turnkey solution to offer as much or as little as customers want as part of their Ebusco journey.”
Ebusco Australia has taken three years to release the tailored Ebusco 2.2 model on Australian shores. Pearce says the company has spent a lot of time speaking with local operators and public transport authorities about what the industry would like to see in a new-age electric bus.
To tailor the 2.2 model to Australian conditions, Pearce says the brand was meticulous in ensuring local operators would get the most out of the technology onboard the bus.
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“The vehicle in itself is the first of its kind in the world and we hope to see many more coming out,” Pearce says. “It’s a good-looking bus from an industry perspective and it really turns heads on the road.”
An example of its eye-catching nature came during the 2.2’s launch in Melbourne. During the event, Pearce says people were up at 6AM wanting to get into the bus and have a look, before Ebusco staff had to keep them away until the launch was underway.
While Ebusco looks set to continue welcoming electric bus options into Australia that follow the brand’s global releases, Pearce says the Australian arm will ensure all models fit local conditions.
“We see Ebusco Australia’s involvement in the country as a partnership where we work together with the industry,” Pearce says. “We want to make sure we can run these vehicles here and interact them as seamlessly as possible.”