In the Netherlands, the electric bus manufacturer Ebusco has received an order for up to 63 e-buses from the public transport operator Qbuzz. The order includes 63 of the latest Ebusco 3.0 model. The buses will be used in the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe from 2024.
In detail, the Qbuzz order includes 45 Ebusco 3.0 measuring twelve metres and another 18 buses in the 18-metre variant, four of which are still under option. The 45 solo buses will mainly be used in regional traffic; the 18-metre articulated buses will also run on lines 5 and 6 in the surrounding area under the label Q-link. Line 6, for example, runs from the Groningen suburb of Haren through the city to Delfzijl at the mouth of the Ems over a distance of about 35 kilometres. Such vehicles thus cover much longer daily distances than, for example, buses in city traffic.
For this reason, Qbuzz has opted for the “extra-large” battery pack, which is over 500 kWh in the Ebusco 3.0. While this battery option is more commonly sold on the articulated bus, it is “unique” for the twelve-metre-long solo bus, according to Ebusco.
Ebusco has been working with Qbuzz for several years and has supplied the operator with around 130 electric buses. Among them are already 60 vehicles in the Groningen-Drenthe region, but these are still the Ebusco 2.2.
The Ebusco 3.0 model was introduced in 2019, which is supposed to reduce consumption and, thus, energy costs thanks to its lightweight construction. However, the more conventional Ebusco 2.2 is still available.
According to Qbuzz, the decisive factor for the renewed order was the positive experience with the older model so far. “Over the past few years, we have already experienced the success of the Ebusco buses on the road. With the Ebusco 2.2 buses, we already drive between 350 and 375 electric kilometres per day, while recharging at our depots from time to time,” says Dirk Huzeling, Creative Bid Manager at Qbuzz. “We are very pleased to now also add the Ebusco 3.0 to our fleet and are confident that this lightweight bus will deliver an even better range in combination with the large battery pack.”
“We are very proud that Qbuzz has once again chosen Ebusco. In recent years we have already delivered more than 100 electric buses to Qbuzz,” says Steven van der Burg, Sales Director at Ebusco. “The fact that Qbuzz selected us again after the success of the Ebusco 2.2, is proof that with the Ebusco 3.0 we have taken the right path to take emission-free public transport to an even higher level. ”
Keyword: NL: Ebusco receives order over 63 e-buses from QBuzz