IRIZAR PARTICIPATES IN THE ZeEUS PROJECT TO IMPLEMENT ELECTRIC BUSES IN THE EUROPEAN CITIES

This past 23 January, Irizar participated in the launch of the ZeEUS project, which stands for “Zero Emission vehicles in Urban Society”. The project was presented in Brussels, and it marks an important milestone in ecological urban transport.

The objective of this innovative project is to develop high-capacity electric vehicles and to create the corresponding infrastructures for recharging so as to implement a fully electric solution in most European city bus networks. Using electricity as an alternative fuel for road transport helps reduce atmospheric
contamination, greenhouse gas emissions and acoustic contamination.

The project is led by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), which coordinates 40 members (including Irizar) that represent all the categories of the parts involved in mobility within an innovative project for expansion.

In the words of its president, Sir Peter Hendy, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, “The use of electricity as fuel has been identified as one of the most promising alternative fuels for transport, and its application in the field of city buses is gaining strength.” “This is one of the most ambitious electromobility projects to be funded by the European Commission.”

The project, with a 42-month duration, will focus on showing the economic, operational, environmental and social viability of electric buses as a real alternative for mobility in urban environments based on various innovative technological solutions in eight European cities: Barcelona, London, Glasgow, Stockholm, Münster, Rome, Pilsen and Bonn, with different weather and orographic environments.

IRIZAR is the only Spanish bus and coach manufacturer and one of the two representatives of the European sector that will participate in the project by delivering two electric urban buses to the TMB company in the city of Barcelona.

The main features and technology they include are:

– Nominal power of 180 kW, with maximum peaks that can reach up to 230 kW, and a nominal par of 1500 Nm with a 3100 Nm peak.

-The on-board vehicle energy is 376 kWh, for an estimated range of 200-250 km that will depend on the driving cycle and the weather conditions.

-The vehicle will be equipped with pioneer technologies such as a preacclimatising system and Eco Assist.

-The pre-acclimatising system allows the vehicle to depart from the bus depot at an optimal temperature by making the most of the energy from the power grid and reducing consumption.

-Eco-Assist is a system that helps the driver in real time with the objective of reducing the vehicle’s energy consumption and increasing its range. It allows centralising information regarding consumption, the route and the driver.

This is a highly relevant initiative for Irizar since, aside from being one of the most important programmes being undertaken in Europe, it will be an ideal showcase for introducing the Group’s technology, aside from being a medium through which to test the market and assess its own product.

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) is the international network that brings together public transport authorities and operators, the individuals responsible for creating policies, scientific institutions, as well as the energy supply and public services industries. It is a platform for international cooperation, for business development and for sharing technical knowledge between its 3,500 members from 92 countries. The UITP defends public transport and sustainable mobility on a worldwide level, and it promotes innovations within the sector.

The ZeEUS project (system of zero emission city buses) has the objective of expanding a fully electric solution to most city bus networks. The initiative is co-funded by the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission with a budget of €22.5 million (€13.5 million from the EU).