Switch Mobility e1 electric bus launched. ZF motors, NMC batteries, lightweight body

Switch Mobility unveiled today the SWITCH e1 electric bus, tailored to the European market. Launched at the European Mobility Expo, the vehicle combines a lightweight monocoque construction with NMC battery technology. 

It is equipped with a 389kWh battery capacity and ZF hub motors. Fast charging is achieved in under 3 hours and A/C charging in 7 hours. The SWITCH e1 also benefits from Switch’s technology including iAlert, enabling remote, real-time diagnostics and monitoring services, as well as digital battery management tools.

SWITCH e1 electric bus: up to 93 passengers on board

The manufacturer claims the vehicle is “one of the lightest 12m buses in Europe at less than 10,800kg of empty weight, coupled with a range of around 390km”.

The SWITCH e1 will be manufactured at the company’s new manufacturing and technical centre in Valladolid, Spain. Switch Mobility has announced it has already three hundred buses on the road, 650 vehicles ordered and 1,200 in the pipeline. A massive £300 million investment plan in the UK and India is planned.

With capacity for up to 93 passengers – including up to 30 seated, passengers will ride in comfort with a contemporary and open interior design, reading lights, under seat lights, USB ports and a wide-screen monitor including a “next five stops” feature and information on nearby local public transport. The interior layout and ultra-low floor throughout improve wheelchair access which is available through both the front and middle doors, a unique feature within this segment. Passengers and drivers can also enjoy the double skin heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) ducts, directing airflow towards the occupants, reducing wastage, and increasing efficiency.

Electronic Stability Control and the Electronic Braking System provide a confident driving experience whilst blind spot monitoring, collision detection and lane departure warning will maximise safety for drivers and passengers alike.

Switch Mobility electric bus for the European market

Speaking on the occasion, Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman of Switch Mobility, said: “The Hinduja Group and Ashok Leyland are committed to providing zero carbon mobility through Switch. Today is a significant milestone for us, with the launch of our first European Bus. Switch is dedicated to the development of new electric buses and light vehicles for multiple geographies and price points including, Europe, UK, India and elsewhere that will be launched over the next few months.”

Andy Palmer, Vice Chairman and CEO of Switch Mobility Ltd, said: “We are proud to continue innovating the sector with not only one of the lightest widely available buses in Europe, but our first fully electric bus designed specifically for the European market”.