German e-mobility specialist Quantron says it will launch its own vehicle, a 12-metre low-floor bus available in both battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell variants that will be priced on par with conventional diesel buses.
A high-tech spinoff from Haller NFZ Group, which was founded all the way back in 1882, Quantron has been a leading system provider of clean battery and hydrogen-powered e-mobility for commercial vehicles such as trucks, buses, and vans.
The Quantron 12-metre low-floor bus will be offered in close cooperation with the company’s investor and strategic partner Ev Dynamics, a European-Asian consortium of companies specialising in electric and hydrogen-based mobility.
The city bus will be offered as both a battery electric vehicle (BEV) variant – which is expected to be available for order by the end of the year – as well as a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) variant which will be available in the Northern Hemisphere’s Spring of 2022.
Importantly, the BEV variant will be priced similarly to that of conventional diesel buses, making them highly attractive as replacements for ageing and end-of-life buses.
With a fully electric drive, the new Quantron city bus will be capable of maximum output of 250kW and boast an electric ranging from 160- to 280-kilometres. Charging power is up to 80kW with a battery capacity of up to 422kWh and can be charged via a European standard CCS 2 plug within 3 to 6 hours, depending on the size of the battery.
This means that the Quantron city bus will be perfect for use in cities across the world, able to charge overnight and be ready for general commuter transport.
With passenger capacity of between 71 and 95 passengers, the bus is able to produce maximum torque of 3,400Nm and will offer four battery capacities – 242kWh, 281kWh, 363kWh, and the aforementioned 422kWh.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.