After bringing over a single electric E12 prototype five years ago, VDI general manager Lou Riccardi says the transition to an electric fleet is something that was pushed early on
“Battery electric bus (BEB) fleets have profound implications across virtually all aspects of an operation, ranging from capital expenditure, depot design, vehicle (especially battery) selection and performance, technology, servicing and, very importantly, safety.
“It was clear that Yutong’s offerings would be a great starting point for this zero-emissions transition.”
The E12 quickly garnered national attention, with the vehicle battery design and performance proving to be a stand-out in the industry. When first introduced, it featured air-cooled batteries and a sleek body design – VDI knew it was onto a winner with the popular electric bus model.
“In 2023, a major order was made by Transport Canberra for another 90 units of the E12 and everything evolved very quickly from that moment on,” Riccardi says.
“It wasn’t long before we became the national distributor of the model and a leader in the electric bus space in Australia.”
The relationship between Yutong and VDI has since fostered a slew of technological advancements that has seen Yutong begin adapting its buses to suit Australian roads.
“The partnering VDI has undertaken with multiple operators and governments across Australia has enabled us to determine what’s most important to them,” Riccardi says.
“Working closely with Yutong, these learnings have been incorporated within the various models we retail here in Australia.”
One of the stand-out changes has been the evolution of battery technologies and safety measures.
“The batteries have moved from air-cooled systems to liquid-cooled,” Riccardi says.
“We’ve also introduced the YESS system in our battery technologies that has now been incorporated into all of our vehicles.”
When it comes to zero-emissions bus safety, Riccardi says protecting electric batteries is the main priority. The four-pronged approach with the YESS system starts by reinforcing the areas of the bus that surround where the batteries sit.
The brand has since then ventured into incorporating thermal management, nitrogen injections and an additional fire blanket with its electric bus deliveries to sweeten the deal for operators.
Yutong and VDI went with quality components to overcome this concern. The class leading CATL batteries within Yutong buses apply a State of Health (SOH) metric for degradation performance purposes.
“Pleasingly, the degradation experienced across our E12 BEBs currently operating in Australia is performing greater than the theoretical modelling supplied by Yutong,” Riccardi says.
Based on what operators have experienced to date, battery degradation is not envisaged to fall below 80 per cent SOH within their eight-year warranty period.
For the 422kWh rated batteries, their SOH is not anticipated to degrade below 337kWh during the first eight years, providing a durable product for local customers.
VDI attributes the battery performance qualities within the E12 to the class leading CATL batteries they are equipped with.
These popular batteries include the key ingredient of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) technology which makes them the most stable battery option in the market due to their superior stability in high vibration and impact environments.
“Their overall performance and their reliability over the years has been outstanding,” Riccardi says.
All of these factors make for an electric bus that covers all facets, allowing Yutong and VDI to show no signs of slowing down in the electric bus transformation.
“We want to continue working closely with Yutong so that Australian operators get access to buses that have actually been developed for Australian conditions,” Riccardi says.
“We are focused on assisting the Australian industry to transition to a battery electric bus fleet through the provision of our expertise and our commitment to safety.
“This can be seen through our commitment to partnering with operators and listening to what changes they want to see and then implementing them.”
One of the next steps in this process will see Yutong’s E12 low-floor route bus model optioned to allow for pantograph charging at depots around Australia.
Inverted pantograph chargers, mounted on gantries or masts, are poised to revolutionise metro route-bus electric vehicle charging. Riccardi says these innovative systems deliver rapid power boosts while minimising maintenance needs.
“Yutong has constantly been improving its electric product,” Riccardi says.
“They have never stagnated.”
Yutong’s unwavering commitment to innovation and collaboration, evident since its first electric bus in 1999, has seen it continuously improve its products, solidifying its position as a leader in the Australasian electric bus industry.
Looking forward, Riccardi is teasing a new generation of batteries expected to come in 18 months’ time.
“This new development will improve the batteries’ reliability and safety throughout all of our electric Yutong buses in the market,” he says.
“On top of that, it will also be more efficient. Customers should expect to get higher capacity models in a smaller size and make the most out of zero-emissions buses.”
By constantly refining its offerings based on operator needs and market demands, the partnership is poised to deliver a significant boost to clean and efficient public transport in Australia for years to come.
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