Caetano launches new generation buses
CaetanoBus is revealing its new generation of city buses, which includes 8.5m, 12m and 18m vehicles.
The 18-metre model will include a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) version, designed for high-capacity urban routes and featured with doors on both sides.
A stand out feature of the new buses is the use of components and technology from CRRC, the world’s largest manufacturer of rolling stock, including high-speed trains, buses and core components.
The Caetano battery electric buses are equipped with CATL BC5 battery systems, offering up to 465kWh for 12m models, up to 700kWh for 18m variants and up to 266kWh for the 8.5m model. CATL’s BC5 technology features high-energy-density LFP cells, designed for safety, fast charging and long service life. These batteries are built to support ultra-long cycle life exceeding 4,000 charge cycles, with minimal degradation over time, helping ensure reliable performance over more than a decade of operation.
Toyota technology remains in the heart of the CAETANO hydrogen-powered buses equipped with the Toyota Fuel Cell Stack Generation 2.5, delivering 70kW of power. The battery pack also from CATL has been expanded to up to 130kWh for 12m FC bus and up to 170 kWh for 18m FC buses.
Both segments, CAETANO battery electric bus (e.CityGold) and hydrogen powered bus (H2.CityGold) are equipped with CRRC’s powertrain and a six-in-one inverter system, which integrates six critical functions (drive motor control, generator control, DC/AC oil pump and air compressor control, DC/DC conversion, and high-voltage power distribution with insulation monitoring) into a single unit. This compact unit and high level of integration reduces system weight by up to 70%, enhances electrical reliability and is expected to improve overall vehicle efficiency and safety.
Nuno Lago de Carvalho, CCO and member of the Executive Committee at CaetanoBus, said: “Through the joint development efforts of CaetanoBus and CRRC, combined with rigorous software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing, the new generation of CAETANO buses represents the forefront of e-mobility engineering—delivering exceptional reliability, performance, and safety for a smarter, more sustainable transportation future. We are equally proud of our ability to scale this innovation across the entire CAETANO product range, from 8.5m to 18m buses, using a common platform that supports both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies. This unified approach ensures maximum flexibility, efficiency, and the seamless integration of cutting-edge systems across all vehicle configurations.”