I'm sorry I can't upload my chassis photos, I don't have the editing tools to reduce them to fit the file size acceptable here. I can assure you that it's a fully low floor chassis. It's not an option, that's standard, like the N series.MiCCROwavE_OVEN wrote: ↑Mon Dec 18, 2023 9:04 pm I did a bit of research on the new Scania C250EB Bustech VST-E for Adelaide - it's been hailed as the first battery-electric bus for Adelaide. What about the Bustech ZDi? From what I know, there were two demonstrator ZDi units operating in Adelaide for some time.
The Scania Product brochure claims that its vehicles can operate "in temperatures from -35°C to +40°, for all conditions up to 16% slopes, without compromising vehicle speed". I don't think Adelaide ever reaches 40+ temperatures, but if the C250EB is ordered by operators in NSW, QLD or the NT, this would undoubtedly cause some issues.
Unusually, the brochure also claims this for the electric motor:
"Battery capacity: 254 kWh or 330 kWh, Lithium-Ion (NMC)
8 or 10 battery packs placed 4 in rear and 4 or 6 on the roof"
The brochure does not seem to suggest that there are any full-low floor options for the C250EB chassis. Additionally, its range of 280km, even with the additional batteries, seems quite measly compared to the Element, which has almost double the range with 6 378kW battery packs.
And the final issue I have with the C250EB is that it has a service life of 'up to 10 years, depending on operating conditions'. That doesn't exactly seem very optimistic. Although the Element also comes with a 10 year warranty, the 'up to' concerns me. I'm a great fan of Scania diesel products in general, however this electric bus seems like it's designed to be replaced. Even if the C250EB gets Panel 3 approved in NSW, the only reason I can see any operators purchasing it would be brand loyalty.
Typically, European buses are built for a life of about 12-15 years. The Element is built for a 25 year life in line with our local expectations. Electric buses in general should have a longer life though as they're not subjected to the mechanical stresses of a diesel bus. In the end, for a battery bus, lifespan is going to be determined by the economics of replacing the expensive battery packs relative to the physical condition of the bus. So the points in the life of the bus at which retirement is likely to be considered are at about 16 and 24 years.
European operators generally prioritise passenger capacity, so they're not great fans of battery buses that are so heavy that they have to reduce the passenger capacity. Instead they tend to have a smaller number of batteries and use a pantograph to top up charge at termini while in service. I think all the customers for this Scania so far are in Europe, so it's possibly Euro specified and not much adapted to the Australian market.
It's true that there were two "Mark 1" ZDi's in Adelaide. I gather they weren't very successful.