The Wrightbus off shoot has trialled its new electric small bus with a German operator for the first time
Having been launched in the UK by Wrightbus under its Rightech brand, one of the company’s demonstrator electric minibuses has been on trial for the first time on the roads in Germany.
German operator Ruhrbahn Essen has tested the new Rightech RB6 on local neighbourhood routes in Werden and the surrounding area as it looks to transition to a zero-emission fleet. The bus was used to shadow neighbourhood routes 182/192 and 190 in Werden, Fischlaken, and Heidhausen during the trial to give the operator insight into how it performed in terms of real-world reliability and range, along with technical requirements, although for insurance reasons, no passengers were carried during the test.
Rightech’s RB6 is a fully low-floor minibus measuring 5.99 metres in length, 2.80 metres in height, and 2.06 metres in width, which Wrightbus says makes the compact bus ideal for urban areas. It can accommodate up to 22 people, including 12 seated passengers and has one space for a wheelchair user. It has a range of approximately 180km and was charged during the trial at a fuelling station in Essen.
Rightech’s European Bus Managing Director Erhan Eran said: “The RB6 is designed for smaller routes such as the ones it has been tested on by Ruhrbahn Essen. It is agile, reliable, has a high battery range and above all offers a great way to help operators transition from diesel buses to a zero-emission fleet to improve air quality in towns and cities across Europe. Initial feedback has been largely positive, with praise for passenger comfort, seat layout, and wheelchair user space, as well as good handling even when turning. We’re looking forward to continuing our conversations with Ruhrbahn Essen as it decarbonises its fleet.” Project manager Jörg Wentscher added: “The RB6 is now the second electric vehicle we’ve tested here in Werden and the surrounding area. The hilly terrain in this region presents significant technical challenges for these buses. Now, the RB6 must demonstrate how well its materials perform, and especially how it lives up to its stated range, in order to potentially be used in regular route service.”
