SPAIN: Barcelona transport operator TMB presented a prototype electric minibus at the Smart Mobility Congress on November 13.
The vehicle has been developed as part of the RIS3CAT research project managed by Catalan competitiveness agency ACCIÓ, which is part of the region’s Ministry of Business & Knowledge. The EU’s European Regional Development Fund has contributed €488 000.
The bodyshell has been developed by Indcar, with an Iveco Strada chassis. Millor Battery has supplied modular batteries with a rating of 135 kWh, which power a 140 kW electric motor, giving the bus a 16 h range. Engineering services company Applus IDIADA and the Eurecat technology centre are also partners in the project.
The air-conditioned minibus is 7·2 m long and 2 430 mm wide with capacity for 22 passengers. There are eight seats and two tip-up seats, as well as a wheelchair space. After the Smart Mobility Congress, the bus is expected to undergo 4 000 km of test running before entry into passenger service on the city’s Bus del Barri routes.
