The German company Quantron AG, specializing in the manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles and aiming for the decarbonization of the transportation sector, arrives in Latin America with electric and hydrogen buses and trucks.
The chosen country to start is Brazil, confirmed Cristian Saavedra, the Latin America business representative of Quantron to Mobility Portal Latinoamérica.
“We are developing projects throughout Latin America: Panama, Peru, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Argentina, Mexico, and Uruguay. Initially, we will start in Brazil, Colombia, and Chile,” he explains.
Regarding the market they encountered and the development of their portfolio of opportunities, he states:
“We are reaching specific industries committed to energy transition, decarbonization, the acquisition of zero-emission vehicles, and carbon credits.”
Currently, the German company has a production capacity of 2,000 buses per year, but they aim to close 2024 with 100 buses sold in different markets.
What are the projections in Brasil?
Quantron arrives in Brazil through Ascensus Group, which will be responsible for marketing the vehicles.
“In May, the electric buses, the hydrogen bus, and the 4.2-ton hydrogen truck should arrive. In September, the 44-ton hydrogen truck would arrive,” announces Jorge Gaiotto, Director of New Business and Mobility at Ascensus Group.
It is worth noting that, as part of São Paulo’s Climate Action Plan, it is expected that by the end of 2024, the city will have at least 2,600 electric buses operating on municipal lines.
“For 2025, we estimate more than 5,000 buses. Our expectation is to achieve 10% of that market,” he explains.
Their foray into Latin America is backed by strategic alliances that allow them to solve and take a proactive approach to seeking local and international financing.
Quantron will use leasing and renting schemes for financing.
“We have leasing and a fund ready to start operations with vehicles, from buses to trucks,” points out Gaiotto.
This competitive advantage, combined with the availability of financing funds, is attractive to customers and investors from an economic perspective.
On the other hand, he brings up a distinctive element in their offering: “We are also the only company in Brazil that is already offering carbon credits to our customers.”
Regarding the choice to introduce hydrogen trucks, he notes that “it is important to go with trucks because they are the largest market available in Brazil after conventional cars.”
What challenges does the company face?
“When we started this study, we thought 100% about the passenger transport segment for public transport because this niche had a very large deficit according to the established commitments,” says Saavedra.
In the context of the Climate Change Law, Brazil set a goal not to have buses with internal combustion engines in circulation from the year 2038.
In this regard, the current reality in Brazil presents a significant challenge since there are currently 444 buses in public transport across the country, according to data provided by the E-BUS Radar platform.
Quantron stands out for being “the only one with hydrogen buses ready.”
Additionally, it has a strategic collaboration with a German development bank that will contribute €300 million for hydrogen generation projects.
The Quantron representative also points out that the charging infrastructure is a challenge in the country, so they will adapt each proposal “according to the needs of each customer.”
Regarding current regulations, he adds, “the concern is that all vehicles pass homologation successfully and can already have the vehicles in Brazil.”
This is how Quantron trucks are like
Quantron offers a range of light trucks ranging from 3.5t to 7.2 tonnes, heavy trucks from 28 to 60t, and zero-emission buses. For much of its portfolio, they have both BEV and FCEV versions. Here are some of them:
The QLI FCEV, with a proven range of up to 450 km. It has an 8.2-kilogram H2 tank, and this vehicle can reach up to 80 km/h. The maximum authorized weight is 5.2 tonnes.
The heavy model QHM BEV 44-280 boasts a motor power of up to 375 kW and a range of 350 km.
Its battery has a capacity ranging from 280 kWh to 450 kWh, with a charging time of 2 hours.
The maximum charging capacity in direct current is 350 kW, while the FCEV version has a range between 700 km and 1500 km per charge with a hydrogen tank of 54 to 120 kg.
In the bus segment, the company offers the QUANTRON CIZARIS 12 EV, which can transport up to 95 people and has more than 9 internal configurations.
Its maximum motor power is 245 kW, and the range varies between 200 km and 390 km depending on the battery variation.
The battery capacity ranges from 242 kWh to 422 kWh, with a charging time of three to five hours. In direct current, the total charging power is 150 kW.
They will also have the FCEV bus version, which has a range of up to 500 km per charge with a tank of up to 60 kg.
The perspective of the brand’s founders
The founders conclude by stating that, thanks to the vision of Vanderlei Palhano, founder of the Ascensus Group, “this alliance will have a positive impact far beyond a transition to zero-emission vehicles.”
“We want to uphold their goals and help improve the quality of life for all Brazilians,” they add.
On Quantron’s side, for its founder and new CEO Andreas Haller, “it is very important to form these types of strategic alliances with companies that truly have a positive impact on people and the world.”
“Quantron embodies the meaning of BEV and FCEV, and now it’s time to deliver and achieve all our goals in Brazil and LATAM,” he concludes.
