Iveco’s E-Way leads the e-mobility charge!
Iveco’s E-Way leads the e-mobility charge!
Electric buses may not be commonplace in South Africa – yet. But, in Europe, they’re fast replacing buses with diesel engines. And Iveco’s E-Way is leading the charge.
Last month (May 2022), Iveco Bus clocked up yet another order for the E-Way, delivering five 12-metre E-Way electric buses to Seville’s Urban Transport.
The electric E-Way bus improves the quality of urban life; it doesn’t generate emissions, works quietly, is more comfortable for passengers and drivers, and helps protect the environment.
The company’s electrical technology provides a quality, comfortable, clean, and sustainable service, without impacting the fundamental advantages of this means of transport, such as versatility of use and optimised operating costs, explains Fabrizio Toscano, Iveco Bus sales manager for Spain and Portugal, adding, “We are happy and proud to have been selected by Seville’s Urban Transport to support them in the deployment of their fleet of 100% clean buses. This first order in Spain is a sign of trust and the best proof of the high quality of our full-electric model.”
E-Way electric: great performance with zero emissions
With the E-Way, Iveco Bus offers the most complete range of electric buses on the market, offering a solution that fits the specific needs of each customer, thanks to a wide selection of lengths (9.5, 10.7, 12, and 18 metres) and charging modes (slow night charging, or fast charging by pantograph).
It also offers an extremely comfortable experience for drivers and passengers, with smooth, quiet, and vibration-free driving and acceleration. This range benefits from the more than 20 years of development and manufacturing experience acquired by Iveco Bus in alternative energies, particularly in electric mobility.
The E-Way chosen by Seville’s Urban Transport features a synchronous electric traction motor with a nominal power of 160 kW and NMC Lithium-Ion ZEN batteries with up to 460 kWh capacity, integrated both in the roof and in the rear of the vehicle. The recharging process through the CCS2 Combo socket is very simple and completely safe, admitting about 100 kW of power for a complete charge in less than four hours.
The buses will offer the best accessibility for people with reduced mobility, thanks to two access ramps and two dedicated spaces for passengers in a wheelchair or with a baby stroller. The flat low floor along the entire length of the vehicle, meanwhile, will optimise passenger flow.
Success in other markets
The E-Way isn’t just making its mark in Spain. It is a mature technology that is already working successfully on public transport networks in France, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, and Germany. The buses operate daily in these countries and have already completed several million kilometres.
Delivering a good ratio of range and passenger capacity, the E-Way has the power to ensure a full day of operation. The e-bus has achieved two certified record runs that demonstrate its outstanding reliability and excellent performance. The second of these was conducted in real operating conditions on the initiative of Iveco’s customer, Verkerhrsbetriebe Bachstein, a transport company based in Celle in Lower Saxony. Using a 12-m overnight charging E-Way with a 350 kWh battery pack for the run, the result, certified by TÜV Nord, was just as impressive as the previous run: 543 kilometres on a single charge, with no problems, leaving a 3% residual load at the end of the test.
Principality of Monaco opts for E-Way
This year, the Principality of Monaco has also opted for e-mobility, taking delivery of 10 E-Way 9.5m units in March. The buses will fully support the energy transition of the Principality and contribute to respecting air quality while reducing noise pollution.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Prince Albert II, sovereign Prince of Monaco; Céline Caron-Dagioni, Minister of Environment and Urban Planning; Stéphane Valeri, president of the National Council; Roland de Rechniewski, director of the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco; and Frederic Lahitte, managing director of Iveco France.
The quiet, zero-emissions E-Way 9.5m offers significant environmental benefits, including an absence of local pollutants, noise pollution, and vibrations, as well as greenhouse gas reductions, improving the comfort of both passengers and local residents.
With a strong identity, the red and white colours chosen both for the exterior customisation and the seat trim are a subtle reminder of the Principality’s national flag. On board, the layout imagined by the Public Transport Company of Monaco combines sustainability and elegant design. Vegetable leather – an eco-friendly leather alternative for seat covering – has been specifically chosen by the operator in order to further reduce the carbon footprint of its vehicles.
Easily accessible, these midibuses will be able to welcome more than 60 passengers onboard, including 16 seated. They are equipped with air conditioning, information screens, and USB ports for a peaceful journey.
The compact dimensions of the E-Way midibus (9.5 x 2.33 m) make it very agile for hard-to-access routes, especially narrow streets in city centres. To further improve driver comfort, the Public Transport Company of Monaco has decided to fit its vehicles with a rear-view vision system that replaces the traditional exterior mirror.
The E-Way 9.5m has been designed and produced in Iveco Bus’ electromobility centre of excellence in Rorthais, France. It is equipped with a 160kW electric motor and NMC Lithium-ion batteries located on the roof and in the rear compartment. The bus recharges at night at the depot in a few hours, thus benefiting from the necessary range for one day of operation.
Speaking at the inauguration, De Rechniewski said Monaco was entering a new era by putting these buses into service. “They comply with our environmental commitments. Their elegance and comfort, we hope, will convince our users and visitors,” he pointed out.
This was a momentous occasion for Iveco Bus. “We are particularly proud to deliver for the first time our full electric midibuses in such a prestigious place as Monaco, and to support the principality in its strong approach to respecting the environment and the Mediterranean coast,” noted Stéphane Espinasse, head of sales & products, Iveco Bus.
Impressive range
The E-Way is also winning fans in Germany, as evidenced by the impressive run certified by TÜV Nord at Verkerhrsbetriebe Bachstein. The 543-km single charge run, conducted with a full electric bus, was completed in 48 hours.
“We had already completed a first test on our test track running 527 km on a single charge. We are delighted with this new record, performed this time by a customer in real operating conditions. It proves the ability of the Iveco Bus E-Way to go even further,” says Espinasse.
“I didn’t believe it, but now I’m proud to have performed this feat on urban and suburban routes in the Braunschweig region in school missions,” added Malte Seek, the E-Way driver.
For Jan Behrendt, CEO of Verkerhrsbetriebe Bachstein, this is a real challenge for drivers: “They are the ones who hold the wheel and manage the entire vehicle. Thanks to the onboard telematics, they know at all times what they can and cannot do. For me, this record foresees the positive future of electro-mobility.”
The Iveco Bus E-Way is the most complete range on the market, offering a solution to match the specific needs of every customer. We can’t wait to see one of these buses on South African roads!
Published by
focusmagsa
