EBUSCO is an established and highly reputable player in the global battery electric bus market. Its latest model is doing things no other electric options have done before, with Australia set to get a slice of the new technology.
EBUSCO knows all about electric buses. Founded in 2012, the new-age manufacturer has quickly forged innovative ways of building unique new zero-emission buses.
All of EBUSCO’s nous and knowledge has been put into its latest range. The public company that first started manufacturing electric buses and accompanying charging infrastructure in the Netherlands is now releasing its first right-hand drive option to the Australian market.
While EBUSCO begins delivering its EBUSCO 2.2 vehicle to customers Down Under, it will build models that continue to advance battery electric bus technology.
“We’re proud to have the EBUSCO 2.2 in Australia now as a right-hand drive option,” EBUSCO Australian director Simon Pearce told ABC.
“It’s been a project years in the making, so we’re proud to have the Australian vehicle fitted with EBUSCO’s latest technology.
“What I love most about our bus is that it’s been designed with Australia in mind – it’s not just a European product that’s been shipped to Australia.”
EBUSCO’s 2.2 model has arrived in Australia and debuted at the Australasian Bus & Coach Expo in October after years of refinement.
EBUSCO has more than 400 vehicles and 65 chargers operating in seven countries around the world, with that figure growing. Pearce says he’s excited to premiere the EBUSCO 2.2 to Australian drivers.
“It’s been a really exciting journey for us,” Pearce says.
“We spent time talking with local customers understanding the system requirements needed for Australia’s different climates.
“We’ve tailored our batteries to ensure they will handle Australia’s heat, giving the European-based model an Australian twist.”
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The first EBUSCO 2.2 right-hand drive bus was taken to Sydney Showgrounds for its first Australian Expo.
It’s not the sole focus for EBUSCO. In an example of the company’s fast-paced evolution, the manufacturer is also continuing to develop world-first technologies as featured on its newest model in the EBUSCO 3.0 electric bus model.
At 9.5 tonnes, the EBUSCO 3.0 is nearly four tonnes lighter than the 13-tonne EBUSCO 2.2. Pearce says the EBUSCO 3.0 is lighter than its competitors, achieved by adapting aerospace technology and using carbon fibre in its structure.
“This means the EBUSCO 3.0 requires fewer batteries, meaning the bus can travel further per full charge due to its lighter weight,” Pearce says.
The technology changes don’t stop with the weight. In a gamechanging move, EBUSCO has been able to move its electric batteries from the rear and roof of the bus to the floor, lowering the vehicle’s centre of gravity.
Pearce says this enables EBUSCO to do a few important things. The EBUSCO Australian director says the batteries being placed on the bottom of the bus reduces the overall vehicle weight while allowing the manufacturer to optionally install a clear sunroof.
“The feel of the vehicle is different to any other electric bus on the market. It’s lighter, more open and there’s more room,” Pearce says.
Along with the sunroof and additional light, the company has also built the EBUSCO 3.0 to ensure it maintains an even low floor for the entire length of the bus. Rather than having the usual slope towards the back of the vehicle, the EBUSCO 3.0 remains as low and flat as a tram, while the width remains the same to increase accessibility for passengers.
Pearce says the EBUSCO 3.0 interior walkway is wider than most other buses of its class, making it easily accessible for wheelchairs. With anti-bacterial grab handles as standard, adjustable and flexible chair positions and a workspace that is personalised to adjust to each individual driver, Pearce says the EBUSCO 3.0 benefits both the driver and the passenger.
EBUSCO’s 2.2 and 3.0 buses come in both 12.5m and 18m options depending on customer requirements. Pearce says the EBUSCO 3.0’s range is currently more than 575 kilometres per full charge.
Pearce says EBUSCO is more than an electric bus manufacturer. Ever since EBUSCO first hit the market in 2012, it has also specialised in electric charging infrastructure and storage. With an eye on reducing carbon emissions as much as possible, EBUSCO also offers energy management systems to monitor its bus batteries and provide demand response solutions to help grid stability.
“The 40-foot container can feed 37 buses in a yard for up to three days without the need for connecting to the grid,” Pearce says.
“It can then also feed the additional energy back into the grid for profit if need be to help operators.”
Along with the storage comes an electric charging and fleet management software that tracks every bit of zero-emissions data necessary for customers. Buses in a fleet can be tracked at real time, with information available ranging from speed to the current pressure the driver is applying to pedals as the bus completes its daily route.
By combining this technology, Pearce says EBUSCO can also make the charging of a bus fleet autonomous through its system to ensure all buses are always running with plenty of energy on board.
When asked how EBUSCO can manage all of these technological advancements, Pearce says the company benefits by not having a diesel bus background.
“Since we started, we have only ever designed and built ground up battery electric buses, being unburdened by the legacy of diesel bus models,” Pearce says.
“It means we can be more innovative than others. For example, our EBUSCO 3.0 uses concepts taken from the global aerospace sector.”
“Many of EBUSCO’s employees come from operator backgrounds. This has been a big advantage as, by the time we designed our EBUSCO 3.0, they had imparted their perspective from an operator standpoint and we drew on this knowledge, building it into our models, then taking them to the market.”
Along with the EBUSCO live telematics platform, Pearce is confident EBUSCO is going to impress many with the unveiling of the first right-hand drive EBUSCO 2.2 following the Expo. Although EBUSCO has had its challenges bringing the vehicle to market and to Australia in time for the Expo, Pearce says it’s now a great time to be showing the revolutionary bus model to the industry.
Pearce says EBUSCO isn’t stopping with its current models. The unveiling of the EBUSCO 2.2 will soon be followed by some exciting new products that are set to continue revolutionising the electric bus game.
“It’s a great time to be doing what we’re doing, so we’ll push ourselves to see what we can do with this new technology,” Pearce says.
“It was amazing to be able to debut the EBUSCO 2.2 in Australia at the Expo and then keep pushing forward.”