160 ‘Xcelsior’ 40-foot buses will replace end-of-life vehicles in METRO’s fleet, to be jointed later by an additional 50 options.

“We’ve made huge progress in electric drivetrain technology since the last Busworld event in 2019. We’re particularly excited about our new HES580 3-level inverter, which increased the motor efficiency and will be the motor-friendliest inverter on the market for bus powertrains," said David Segbers at Busworld 2023.

The work was carried out on a used 12-tonne 'Renault Trucks D' in partnership with a firm enrolled in Volvo’s ‘CampX’ startup incubator in Lyon, called ‘Novumtech’.

The ten vehicles are all Ankai double-deckers which will feature Equipmake’s zero-emission drivetrain and a 327-kWh capacity battery pack, providing a 193 km (120 miles) range. The first vehicle will enter service in Q1 2024.

50 units of the ‘Qargo 4 EV’ 4.5-tonne range, fitted with 81-kWh CATL batteries, have been delivered to the subsidiary of Saudi-based lubricants multinational Petromin Corporation.

The Euro VI engine's maximum torque has been increased by 50 (to 150 Nm) and offers lower fuel consumption and longer time between service intervals than previous generations due to high torque and low revs. The new powertrains are able to run on HVO biodiesel.

73.5% of all new city buses (excludes intercity buses, coaches and trolleybuses) registered in Europe in the first half of 2023 had an alternative driveline, states CME Solutions.

Subject to regulatory approval, the joint venture will be launched in 2024, with both partners pledging to invest EUR300m each over the next three years.

The new vans, dubbed ‘TGE Next Level’, will enter production in May 2024.

Roland Ramirez, Director Program Management Global BusLink at JOST said that the launch date of BusLink in Europe with an unnamed large European OEM was set for 2025.

The company says it has begun a “critical development stage” with the testing of its X1.5 prototype hydrogen truck, which follows the launch of its HGV technology demonstrator in April earlier this year.

All three segments, city bus, intercity and coach showed registration volume rises.