Zero-carbon urban and tourist buses

Could these new models decarbonise the streets of Europe?

Spotted: According to the European Commission, heavy-duty vehicles account for more than six per cent of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions and over 25 per cent of the region’s road transport emissions. To address the issue, Polish bus manufacturer MMI has decided to switch its production to zero-emission electric and hydrogen buses.

The company is looking to produce a range of e-bus models – including low-entry, low-floor, and normal-floor – using a variety of new design features to make the vehicles as efficient as possible. For one, MMI is replacing the traditional steel-aluminium frame with a lighter skeletal-laminate composite, which will allow them to travel further on a single charge.

In addition, MMI is working to develop a new drivetrain system that would see synchronous motors integrated directly into the wheel hubs, improving power transmission and the vehicle’s overall efficiency. But that’s not all: the company is also pushing boundaries with a hydrogen fuel cell-powered bus.

MMI recently secured €7.7 million in funding from Vinci SA to enable the company to produce its proposed e-bus models. The funding is also going towards the construction of a modern production facility, which will help MMI double its current manufacturing capacity.

Written By: Georgia King