Barcelona’s Metropolitan Transports (TMB) will test a new electric bus that operates on a single charge
A new electric bus model will be tested in the city of Barcelona in Spain, the vehicle can operate for an entire day on a single charge. Starting in July of this year, Barcelona’s Metropolitan Transports (TMB) will conduct tests of the Lion’s City 18E electric bus, a vehicle that stands out for it’s long range without relying on supplementary charging infrastructure and zero pollutant emissions.
Barcelona will thus become one of only two cities in Europe (the other being Cologne in Germany) to have a test unit of this high-performance bus model, capable of doing the entire route on just one battery charge per day and with the ability to carry up to 120 passengers.
The new e-bus
The new e-bus is 18 meters long and is driven by two central electric motors located on the third axle. In contrast to the electric motors located close to the wheel hubs, their position improves accessibility for assembly and allows a simpler design of the entire drive system.
The vehicle is equipped with a DC fast charging system using the Combined Charging System (CCS) standard, which achieves an average output of 100 kW (150 kW peak), enabling it to be ready for operation in a matter of four hours. According to the manufacturer, the Lion’s City 18E has a guaranteed battery life of 200 kilometers on a mixed route and up to 270 under favorable conditions. This is crucial, since the most efficient articulated electric buses marketed so far in Europe combine overnight charging as well as charging during rest time at terminal stops, which means equipping the network with charging infrastructure.
