Equipmake in Argentina electric bus first
Electric vehicle specialist Equipmake has played a key role in Argentina’s first, domestically manufactured, electric bus entering operation in Buenos Aires.
The MT17.0e, which features Equipmake’s proprietary Zero Emission Drivetrain (ZED) fully-electric technology, is running on Line 28 in Argentina’s capital city, operated by DOTA S.A.
Working with Agrale and Todo Bus, Equipmake’s ZED forms an integral part of the single-deck Agrale MT17.0e which has been developed as part of the Advanced Propulsion Centre-funded CELEB (Cost Effective Low Entry Bus) scheme. The project has seen Equipmake lead multiple international partners over the last five years, with the objective of delivering a cost-effective bus designed for the South American market.
The MT17.0e pairs Equipmake’s HTM 3500 motor – which delivers 3,500Nm of torque at 1,000rpm and a peak power output of 400kW, integrated into the prop shaft without the need for a separate transition – with a Semikron SKAI inverter. Optimised for dependable daily service, the comprehensive package features a 318kWh lithium-ion battery, capable of delivering up to 155 miles (250km) of range and effortlessly recharged in the depot in 5-7hrs via a CSS2 DC charging point. The Company understands that DOTA S.A has further plans to extend its MT17.0e fleet enabling more zero emission buses to operate in Buenos Aires.
“We’re hugely excited about the transformative potential of our technology and the benefits it will bring to Buenos Aires and beyond” – Ian Foley, CEO, Equipmake
Ian Foley, CEO, Equipmake, said: “We are delighted that DOTA S.A has put this pioneering electric bus into operation in Buenos Aires. This is Argentina’s first domestically manufactured e-bus and, together with our partners Agrale and Todo Bus, Equipmake is playing a key role in the acceleration of Buenos Aires’ mission to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 and become entirely carbon-neutral by 2050.
“The MT17.0e features Equipmake’s state-of-the-art electric zero-emission drivetrain technology which has an important role to play in advancing the electrification of buses and heavy vehicles. We’re hugely excited about the transformative potential of our technology and the benefits it will bring to Buenos Aires and beyond in the years to come. Now that the vehicle has demonstrated it has met its performance targets in service, we hope to begin supplying Agrale in the short term to meet growing South American demand.”
Equipmake’s ZED is a modular and scalable electric drivetrain solution, featuring its in-house developed electric motor, inverter and power electronics, which are combined with lithium-ion batteries.