Electric bus and light commercial vehicle company, Switch Mobility on Tuesday unveiled the new, 4th generation SWITCH e1 bus for the European market. Launched at the European Mobility Expo, the new 12 m long e-bus features a monocoque design, and will be manufactured at the company’s new manufacturing and technical centre in Valladolid, Spain.
The company said the e1 is its first fully electric bus designed specifically for the European market. It is also one of the lightest 12m buses in Europe at less than 10,800 kg, coupled with a range of around 390 km from a 389 KWh battery, claimed the company.
The battery used on the e1 is the advanced NMC battery technology, which provides a lighter weight and higher density solution than conventional LFP batteries, delivering a lower total cost of ownership, said the company.
The bus, which features a 389 kWh battery pack and ZF hub motors, can carry up to 93 passengers with 30 seated, the company said. The company has also provided wheelchair access through both the front and middle doors. The cabin of the bus also features reading lights, under seat lights, USB ports and a wide-screen monitor including a “next five stops” feature and information on nearby local public transport along with double skin heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) ducts, a company release stated.
On the safety front, the Switch e1 bus gets electronic stability control and electronic braking system along with blind spot monitoring, collision detection and lane departure warning.
Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman, Switch Mobility, said, “Switch is dedicated to the development of new electric buses and light vehicles for multiple geographies and price points including, Europe, UK, India and elsewhere that will be launched over the next few months.”
Andy Palmer, Vice Chairman and CEO, Switch Mobility said the SWITCH e1 is a result of learning from the 30 million electric miles Switch buses have covered, delivering a state-of-the-art transport solution designed with a customer first mindset.
Creating Zero Carbon Future
Switch incidentally is the first global bus and light commercial vehicle manufacturer to achieve the accolade of being a sustainable carbon neutral certified manufacturer. The company claims to have saved over five million tonnes of CO2 from its Metrodecker buses and its Metrocity, the first British built, pure electric bus to enter service in London.
The Switch e1, the company said, is the next step in zero-emission buses and builds on Switch’s ambition for a next-generation fleet. It is adaptable to any city to ensure fleets can be decarbonised, with customisable batteries to fit the desired range and modular roof-mounting for future expansion needs, said the release.