Argentinian e-bus features Equipmake’s zero emission drivetrain

The MT17.0e is running on Line 28 operated by DOTA S.A, connecting the neighbourhoods of Liniers with Retiro in Argentina’s capital city.

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 Snetterton, Norfolk-based Equipmake lead 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 daily service, the package features a 318kWh lithium-ion battery that is capable of delivering up to 155 miles of range and being recharged in the depot in five to seven hours via a CSS2 DC charging point.

In a statement, Ian Foley, CEO, Equipmake said: “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 suitable for single and double-deck applications, new buses, and for repowering of existing vehicles.

The technology features Equipmake’s electric motor, inverter, and power electronics, combined with lithium-ion batteries.

ZED’s patented thermal management system maintains the battery pack, motor and inverter at an optimal temperature to maximise vehicle range. An advanced water-glycol cooling circuit brings an additional benefit by providing interior heating during cold conditions with captured thermal energy.