Bustech, Precision Buses (SA) and Ebusco to partner on the future of zero emission buses in Australasia.
Deurne, Netherlands / Adelaide, Australia, 1 June 2020 – Ebusco, a Dutch pioneer in zero emission electric vehicle technology and smart mobility solutions, is launching a regional partnership with Australian Bus Corporation, comprising Precision Buses and Bustech, the largest Australian owned bus group in Australasia.
Key Points
• Australian Bus Corporation and Ebusco have formed a partnership to deliver and maintain the next generation electric buses into Australia and New Zealand.
• The current model Ebusco 2.2 is a fully electric city bus capable of 350+ km on a single charge.
• Australian Bus Corporation and Ebusco will partner on the launch of Ebsuco 3.0, Ebusco’s next generation carbon fibre based bus, saving over 4 tonnes in weight and featuring a low flat floor, optional panoramic roof, and capable of reaching over 500km on a single charge.
Simon Pearce, the newly appointed Strategic Director of Asia Pacific for Ebusco explains:” The Australian Bus Corporation and Ebusco initially met at the BIC conference in Canberra, Australia. After an initial discussion between Dan Marks (Director/Owner of Precision Buses and Bustech), Peter Bijvelds (CEO Ebusco) and Michel Maanen (CCO & COO Ebusco) each party felt that they could offer the other a unique skillset in addressing the needs of the Australasian market”.
“Ebusco has extensive experience in developing zero emission European quality buses using European parts, with a F35 inspired carbon fibre design. Ebusco has delivered over 150 electric buses into fleet in Europe with a further (at this moment known) 245 electric buses to be delivered in the next 12 months.
Uniquely, Ebusco has a deep understanding of bus operations enabling Ebusco to support operators in the deployment of zero emission buses in market having regard to TCO (Total cost of ownership). Australian Bus Corporation, through Precision Buses and Bustech, provides unrivalled design, engineering and manufacturing capability and capacity in Australia, which is comprehensively supported by a localised supply chain throughout Australia, spare parts warehousing, and a service, after sales and support network.
“Our collaboration with Ebusco supports our broader strategy of collaborating with technology partners who wish to expand into Australasia and localise their production to provide economic benefit to the Australian market and create Australian jobs, whilst leveraging territory specific engineering know-how and capability. Sovereign capability in Australia has never been more important and the Ebusco team has embraced that with their plans to expand into Australia by partnering with us” explains Christian Reynolds, Group Managing Director of Australian Bus Corporation.
The partnership between Ebusco and the Australian Bus Corporation will ultimately result in the Ebusco 2.2 and the next generation, carbon based Ebusco 3.0 being manufactured in Australia in a purpose built high tech facility.
The Australian Bus Corporation and Ebusco recognise buses are only one part of the broader ecosystem that is required in Australia to activate the rapid deployment of zero emission buses. To that end, they are both working with other technology and infrastructure partners to support multiple operations across Australia.
“We believe the Ebusco 3.0 will be a game changer and will significantly lower the total cost of ownership model in an extremely competitive environment, delivering significant benefits to customers” – Simon Pearce, Ebusco Australia.
“The collaboration with Ebusco is an exciting development for both parties, combining Ebusco’s experience in Europe with Australian Bus Corporation’s commitment to smart engineering which will support electric bus advancement for both companies.” said Christian Reynolds.
About Ebusco
Ebusco is dedicated to the development, marketing and sale of fully electric city and regional buses, mainly for the European market. Ebusco is an originally Dutch company based in Deurne, the Netherlands.
Ebusco is a pioneer and a forerunner in the development of electric buses and charging systems and is now able to offer an electric bus that is cheaper than a diesel bus.
The European Union has set stringent objectives for reducing CO2 emissions in the very near future. The Netherlands is the most progressive EU state in this regard. In 2016 the Dutch government signed an agreement with all public transport providers stipulating that no new diesel buses may be sold from 2025 and that from 2030 no diesel buses will be allowed to operate.
Michel van Maanen, CCO and COO of Ebusco; ‘Since the company’s creation in 2012 we have gained extensive experience by supplying more than 150 buses to 15 European cities and in 2020 more than 200 new Ebusco buses will start operating in Europe’. We see the Australian market, combined with local partnerships, as a logical next step for Ebusco in contributing to a more liveable environment and introducing new technology in combination with the creation of ‘future jobs’. With the appointment of Simon, who is a real ambassador of this sustainable philosophy, we are sure to find the right local partnerships with all stakeholders to realise this goal. The cooperation with Australian Bus Corporation is an important example off this.
The goal of Ebusco is to make clean, silent and emission-free public transport available to everyone. Due to the successes it has achieved, Ebusco is growing fast. At present Ebusco employs over 150 people.
About the electric buses
Ebusco supplies 2 types of buses at this moment; the Ebusco 2.2 and the Ebusco 3.0. “The Ebusco 3.0 – a very innovative composite light weight e-bus – is a great opportunity to demonstrate how next generation electric vehicles can provide new transport solutions.
Here in Australia we have the ideal location to demonstrate the potential of this very innovative technology,” Simon continued. “In growing cities it’s more and more important to embracing technology as it transitions from traditional industries into the environmentally friendly digital economy.
