ABC #397

NEWS
BUSTECH AND PROTERRA
IN LANDMARK E-BUS DEAL
NORTH AMERICAN electric bus
innovator Proterra and Australian
bus builder Bustech are to
collaborate on making e-buses for
the local market, the companies
announced recently.
The selection of Proterra Powered
battery technology for Bustech’s
new ZDi 12.5-metre all-electric
transit bus represents Proterra’s
official entry into the Australian bus
market, it states.
“Everybody within our
organisation is extremely excited to
be in a partnership with Proterra,”
said Bustech CEO and ex-ZF
executive Thinus Steyn.
“We have up-skilled the group
over the last six months with the
capacity and capability to bring
the ZDi Proterra Powered electric
vehicle to market in early 2021
and have a significant number of
orders in the pipeline, which we
have been working on in advance
of the announcement of our
partnership,” Steyn said.
Under the partnership,
Bustech will incorporate Proterra’s
battery technology into the
single-deck ZDi’s integrated
chassis systems, Bustech’s parent
entity Australia Bus Corporation
(ABC) confirms.
The Proterra battery system for the
ZDi will feature 450kWh capacity,
which will enable an estimated
325km of driving range on a single
charge, the company claims. The
vehicle can fully charge in about two
hours, it adds.
DOUBLE-DECK E-BUSES?
“Our best-in-class battery technology
platform has been proven in more
than 13 million service miles driven
by our fleet of battery electric transit
buses in the United States and
Canada. Now, we look forward to
delivering the benefits of Proterra
Powered clean, quiet electric
vehicles to even more people
around the world,” said Jack Allen,
Proterra CEO and chairman.
Group managing director at
Bustech and Precision Buses,
Christian Reynolds, stated:
“This relationship reflects the
intended transformation within
the current market. Being able to
bring a US technology company like
Proterra to Australia is a fantastic
opportunity to assist in the rapid
growth expectations and maturing
of BEVs in Australia.
“Together with Proterra, we have
aspirations to quickly scale in the
market. We see this solution scaling
across all variants of vehicle within
our range, including articulated and
double-decker buses.”
THE BATTERIES
According to Proterra, its battery
packs incorporate advanced features
such as liquid cooling with an active
thermal management system that
will ensure optimal charging and
maximise battery life by maintaining
a constant battery temperature in
Australia’s demanding climate.
The technical partnership will
use Proterra’s battery technology
Pictured:
The Proterra
battery system
for the ZDi will
feature 450kWh
capacity, which
will enable an
estimated 325km
of driving range on
a single charge, the
company claims.
while ensuring overall vehicle
manufacturing and assembly is
consistent with local supply chains
on shore in Australia, they state.
Operating as a core technology
partner, Proterra will provide
training and development support
to strengthen Bustech’s in-country
service network and experience with
the battery product, ABC confirms.
Proterra batteries are
manufactured with safety
mechanisms built directly into
the battery architecture and have
undergone extensive testing to meet
the exacting safety standards, the
company says.
Proterra battery systems
incorporate Proterra’s patented
technology, monitoring sensors
throughout the battery pack, and
passive propagation resistance,
which isolates individual battery
cells in the rare case of a thermal
event to prevent wider spread, it
explains.
“We have been really impressed
with the battery technology from
Proterra, with its energy density
and inbuilt control system. This
will translate into a vehicle with
unparalleled performance and
safety,” said Gregg Dinning,
Bustech’s chief technical officer.
“Our aim is to introduce product
“Our aim is to introduce
product which is
deployable into
operating networks
without having to
remodel the full fleet or
depot service model.”
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ABC September 2020 busnews.com.au