In Germany, state-owned utility Stadtwerke München (SWM) has ordered 28 articulated electric buses from Dutch manufacturer Ebusco for Munich’s public transport company (MVG).
The buses ordered are the company’s latest model, Ebusco 3.0, in the 18-meter version with a particularly large battery pack (over 500 kWh).
The 3.0 was first introduced in 2019 and is said to be up to five tons lighter in the articulated bus configuration than the conventionally built Ebusco 2.2, which can still be ordered.
Because of the lighter weight, the newer design enables a lower energy consumption and higher range for the same battery configuration, or alternatively, a smaller, lighter and less expensive battery can be installed for the same range.
MVG already has 26 examples of the Ebusco 2.2 and two Ebusco 3.0 as twelve-meter-long solo buses.
According to MVG’s experience to date, the 3.0 has an energy consumption 30 per cent lower than the earlier model, the 2.2.
According to the company, electric buses are expected to cover around 60,000 kilometres per year at MVG.
CEO Peter Bijvelds revealed: “In the past years, we have worked closely with SWM as an innovation partner, for example, for the development of our lightweight construction and prototyping of platooning buses.
The fact that SWM has now chosen the Ebusco 3.0 again proves that we are on the right track.”
Ingo Wortmann, MVG-Chef, added: “Besides their innovative character, the 3.0 vehicles are very reliable and especially economical. We are looking forward to adding 28 more 18-metre buses to our fleet.”
