ARGENTINA
A new Agrale electric bus, developed by British electrification specialist Equipmake in collaboration with the Argentine-Brazilian manufacturer and featuring the company’s latest-generation zero-emission powertrain, has been launched in Buenos Aires.
Following successful tests by Agrale in Argentina, the new bus will now begin in-service trials on the streets of Buenos Aires. Having committed to halving its carbon emissions by 2030 and becoming completely carbon neutral by 2050, Buenos Aires sees electric buses as playing a crucial role in supporting its climate commitments.
The Equipmake-powered Agrale MT17.0 LEe is a 12m single decker capable of carrying 70 passengers. It will be operated for the next 12 months by DOTA, the largest bus operator in Buenos Aires.
The drivetrain has been developed as part of the Advanced Propulsion Centre-funded CELEB (Cost Effective Low Entry Bus) project, in which Equipmake has led multiple international partners over the last three years, with the objective being to deliver a cost-effective bus designed for the South American market.
Working with Agrale and Argentine coachbuilder Todo Bus, Equipmake developed an electric version of the single-deck Agrale MT17.0 LE, installing its own Zero Emission Drivetrain (ZED). The new vehicle features a bespoke Equipmake ZED with a 318kWh lithium-ion battery, Equipmake’s own HTM 3500 electric motor, producing 3,500Nm of torque at 1,000rpm and a maximum power of 400kW, and integrated into the prop shaft without the need for a separate transmission.
Equipmake estimates that the new electric Agrale MT17.0LEe will have a range of up to 150 miles, which it says is more than enough for a day’s use in Buenos Aires. It can be recharged in the depot overnight via a CSS2 DC charging point.
Following the successful completion of the test, the objective is for mass manufacturing to begin in Buenos Aires with Agrale and Todo Bus, using the licensed Equipmake ZED technology, with the wider ambition of bringing state-of-the-art electrification to other South American countries, in line with the collaboration agreement between the company and Agrale.
CEO of Equipmake Ian Foley said: “On behalf of everyone at Equipmake, I am proud to see the MT17.0LEe, featuring our ZED system, launched here today at the C40 World Mayors Conference and the imminent start of in-service trials on the streets of Buenos Aires. Through this Advanced Propulsion Centre-funded project, we have worked closely with Agrale along with other key partners, and the result is a state-of-the-art yet cost-effective bus. Its potential is huge. Buenos Aires has around 16,000 buses alone and electric buses can play a key role in helping the city hit its targets of halving carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050.”
