The arrival of the Irizar electric bus in Mexico, the result of an alliance with Mobility ADO, is an example of how the experience of Spanish companies in the electromobility sector is capturing new markets.
Following a visit to Zaragoza, where they saw first-hand how the vehicle and the local transport system worked, the governor of Yucatan and the local operator decided to implement the IE TRAM in Merida.
Juan Carlos Abascal, LATAM Mobility Director at Mobility ADO, stresses that the relationship between Irizar and them is not a matter of chance.
“We are already working with them in the Spanish city through Avanza, where the electromobility model has proven to be successful,” he explains in an interview with Mobility Portal España.
The IE TRAM not only has a design that resembles a tram, something key for Mobility ADO, but it also “brings modernity and efficiency” to the cities where it operates.
However, the car, as designed, was not functional in the area due to the high temperatures and high humidity that characterize the region.
“One of our main challenges was to design a system that would keep the interior of the bus in optimal conditions, without significantly affecting its autonomy,” explains Abascal.
For this reason, the batteries of the IE TRAMs in Mérida are different from those found in the buses that operate with Avanza in Spain.
These were made modular, which gives greater power and autonomy to the unit.
But technology is not the only key factor in this alliance.
Mobility ADO’s experience as an operator is a determining factor in the successful implementation of the project.
“In the company we move around 720,000 people a day in urban systems in Mexico, of which between 180,000 and 200,000 already travel in electric vehicles,” says Abascal.
He highlights: “This is not a trend, it is part of our business model.”
Not only that.
Reliability and long-term commitment to Irizar are essential, as this electromobility project requires not only the sale of the buses, but also constant support.
This initiative will last for 15 years, with a battery replacement planned between the seventh and eighth years.
In this sense, for Mobility ADO the alliance with the Spanish firm is not just a commercial transaction.
“We need to be confident that cars will perform optimally throughout their life cycle and that requires a solid and trusting relationship with the manufacturer,” explains the company representative.
Collaboration with local suppliers to ensure the availability of spare parts, such as glass with special treatments to mitigate the heat of the sun, has also been key.
The impact of eBuses in Mexico
In order to design an efficient system, it was necessary to carry out exhaustive field tests, which included the early arrival of a vehicle to Mérida to carry out real-time testing.
“Sending a bus from Spain to Mexico for evaluations is not something we do lightly, but it was necessary to ensure the car was working properly,” he says.
Given the success of these, although the project initially contemplated the acquisition of 32 units, which are already operational in the city, it was decided to incorporate five additional ones, reaching a total of 37.
“These last five will arrive the first week of December,” he anticipates.
How is the loading of IE TRAMs planned?
One of the highlights of the project is its comprehensive approach to sustainability, which not only includes the use of electric buses, but also the integration of advanced charging infrastructure and the use of renewable energy.
In this context, Mobility ADO works hand in hand with ABB to install pantographs that allow for rapid, opportunity-based charging at night.
“Using pantographs is a smart solution that ensures they can operate efficiently on long routes,” says Abascal.
The vehicles have a range of 240 kilometers on a single charge.
It is worth noting that the government of Yucatan has also played a crucial role in creating an adequate framework for the implementation of the project.
How? Including the construction of the “refuelling” infrastructure at the former train station, which has now been transformed into an ecological park.
This initiative represents a joint investment of 2.8 billion Mexican pesos (approximately 131.89 million euros) between the local authority and Mobility ADO.
This is a public-private partnership, in which the administration is responsible for providing the charging network, while the private company provides the rolling stock.
“This model is financially viable, mainly due to the savings generated by using energy instead of fossil fuels,” Abascal emphasizes.
About Mobility ADO
It is a company with 85 years of experience, “proudly of Mexican origin.”
Its operations in Mexico focus primarily on long-haul and intermediate transport services.
12 years ago, the firm decided to expand into the Spanish market by investing in Avanza, with a particular focus on the urban transport system.
