2,400 participants (20 percent more than in 2022) attended Bus2Bus 2024, ‘populated’ by 140 exhibitors from 20 countries. The expo was live on 24-25th Aprile and dates are already scheduled for the next edition: April 15 and 16, 2026. Well, what have we seen at the expo? At the forefront is MAN with the BEV version of the Lion’s City LE and a Neoplan Tourliner equipped with the ADAS technologies required by the GSR2 regulations that will come into force in July. The brand has been sharing some more information about the eCoach set for launch in 2025: it’ll be featuring high-power charging for ..read more

Siemens Smart Infrastructure has completed the first successful 1MW charge, in a pilot which brought together a prototype MCS charging station from Siemens and a long-haul prototype eTruck by Mercedes (eActros 600). The technology, if commercially implemented, might be quite a gamechanger also in the upcoming BEV coach market (MAN is set to launch its first vehicle in this segment in 2025: the OEM has been demonstrating Megawatt charging in March with ABB). Megawatt Charging piloted in Germany Prototype Megawatt Charging System [MCS] from Siemens successfully delivered a 1MW chargeGrowth in th ..read more

Wrightbus has signed another deal for hydrogen bus supply in Germany: 46 vehicles have been indeed ordered by Cottbusverkehr GmbH and will serve the city of Cottbus, the second largest city in the state of Brandenburg, and and in the western part of the district of Spree-Neiße. The first buses are due to be delivered at the end of 2024. Wrightbus hydrogen buses for Germany The Cottbus order for the Kite Hydroliner buses follow deals in Germany with West Verkehr, Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH (RVK), and Saarbahn GmbH, with more European orders in the pipeline. The orders follows an announcement by ..read more

US bus manufacturer Gillig is set to expand its zero-emission product lineup with the addition of a hydrogen fuel cell powered bus, to be developed in collaboration with BAE Systems and Ballard Power Systems. Earlier this year Gillig has received a major order in Seattle for its battery-electric bus model. In November 2022, Gillig announced that 45 transit agencies have decided to utilize their FTA grants to buy the manufacturer’s low and zero emission buses. Nearly half of Gillig’s partnerships are utilizing Low-No funding to purchase Gillig’s zero-emissions Battery E ..read more

Omnicar, a 25-years old German company active so far in the bodyworks on Sprinter and Daily minibuses, has launched its first vehicles with own logo unveiling the W-Smile S6 and W-Smile S7 at Bus2Bus in Berlin. The vehicles are battery-electric minibuses, 6 and 7-meter respectively (the latter available for test drives outdoor), manufactured in China by Wisdom Motor in cooperation with Omnicar’s team. Omnicar launches electric bus models at Bus2Bus So far Omnicar has been working on minibus chassis in its production plant in Poland and Turkey since late ’90, with average sales figures of 120 t ..read more

Otokar, is participating at Bus2Bus, which opened today and runs in Berlin until April 26, exhibiting its 12-meter electric bus, the e-Kent C. From what we were told in our visit to the booth, at NME – Next Mobility Exhibition, May 8-10 in Milan, the Turkish manufacturer will present the e-bus in the revamped version without an engine tower and increased battery equipment, up to 450 kWh. The e-Kent C is designed to contribute to a cleaner environment and quieter traffic, as well as lower operating costs and greater efficiency. Developed by Otokar R&D engineers to provide the best solutions ..read more

Busplaner magazine awarded the Iveco Bus E-WAY H2 the “International Sustainability Award 2024”, in the category of 12-meter hydrogen-powered buses. The award ceremony took place on April 23 in Berlin, one day before the opening of the Bus2Bus trade fair. The award, given by an independent jury of experts consisting of well-known personalities from business, associations and the media, recognizes the contribution of companies active in the bus industry to sustainable and responsible growth through their economic, social and environmental commitment . Erhan Eren, Germany, Switzerland, Aust ..read more

Daimler Buses and Polish battery systems expert BMZ Poland have entered into a strategic partnership for the development and supply of the next generation of e-bus batteries. The new battery generation NMC4 – succeeding the current NMC3 technology by BorgWarner launched in early 2023 – “will combine high energy density, resulting in a longer range for e-buses, with an ultra-long cycle life”, Daimler Buses states in a press note, mentioning that the new battery system will be available “from the middle of the decade”.  Opening picture from archive – source Daimler Buses So far Daimler Bus ..read more

A new collection of next generation bus floors engineered to address operational challenges unique to zero emission vehicles. That’s the novelty ready for showcase at Bus2Bus in Berlin (24-25th April 2024) by Altro, international manufacturer of flooring and wall cladding solutions with offices across Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, active (also) in the design and manufacturing of floors for buses. Three new ranges of bus floors will be also presented to the industry at the ALBUM conference in the UK. Altro launches new family of bus floors Celebrating this milestone in ..read more

Ebusco has received a new order via the public purchasing centre UGAP, on behalf of the authority Métropole Rouen Normandie. This order consists of 15 Ebusco 3.0 18-metre buses which will be deployed in the Rouen Metropolitan area in 2025, according to plans. The 15 Ebusco 3.0 18-metre buses will accompany the four Ebusco 2.2 buses that are already in operation, and the additional 85 Ebusco 3.0 buses that are due to be delivered (contract was signed in late 2022). Ebusco 3.0 buses for Rouen, France These 15 new Ebusco 3.0 18-metre buses will be fitted with 4 double doors and a battery pack of ..read more