Austrian manufacturer K-Bus GmbH has delivered ten fully electric low-floor buses to Catania, Italy, for use in urban transport, the company said. The vehicles, designated E-Solar City XL, are built on Mercedes-Benz technology and can travel up to 200 kilometres on a single charge.
The minibuses feature a 150 kW motor and a 100 kWh battery, accommodating around 30 passengers with 17 seats and a wheelchair space. The low-floor design is intended to ensure barrier-free access.
Each bus is equipped with CCS charging and can add up to 100 kilometres of range within one hour, according to the company. “We designed the E-Solar City XL to combine efficiency, accessibility, and reliability for urban operators,” K-Bus said in a statement.
K-Bus also markets two smaller variants: the E-Solar City L, based on the Toyota ProAce with a 75 kWh battery, and the E-Solar City Light, derived from the electric Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a 55 kWh battery and a range of 120 kilometres.
The company has previously developed alternative drive concepts, including a solar-extended low-floor minibus introduced in 2017, which today is sold as the Airport Elektro. That model, equipped with a 48 kWh battery and solar range extender, now accommodates up to 32 passengers.