Hamburg's suburban traffic upgrades to electric buses. In search of suitable models, the Hamburger Hochbahn is currently testing the Irizar ie-Tram, which at first glance looks more like a tram.
While there are already four production-ready electric buses in Hamburg in passenger service, 56 more electric buses will follow this year and next. Therefore, the elevated train now tests new models from various manufacturers.
The latest test vehicle is the Irizar ie-Tram by the eponymous Spanish manufacturer Irizar. The futuristic vehicle stands out mainly because of its appearance. Because the bus actually has the form of a tram, but does not drive on rails, but on conventional rubber tires.
150 seats, 60 kilometers range
The articulated bus has a total of 150 seats (49 seats, 101 standing places, a wheelchair and a stroller seat) and is 18.73 meters long. The bus is powered by an electric motor with a power of 235 kilowatts. The necessary energy comes from a lithium battery with a capacity of 120 kilowatt hours.
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Public transport: Hamburg tests futuristic electric busEquipped so the bus has a range of 60 kilometers - the use of heating, air conditioning and ventilation included. The battery can be charged both by overnight charge on the bus depot and at the end points of lines.
In Spain, he is already driving the electric bus in Barcelona and San Sebastian and in the French Amiens. In Hamburg it is now used for the first time in Germany. "We are always looking for new mobility solutions for Hamburg, which not only has an environmentally friendly drive, but is also characterized by a very modern design," says Henrik Falk, CEO of Hamburger Hochbahn.
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Electric City Buses: Whispering GiantsThe one-week test phase initially takes place without passengers. The focus of the test is the electric drive, the load capacity as well as the driving behavior in the city center area. At the same time, the electric bus will also be tested in Essen.