A slightly longer variant of the battery-electric Karsan e-JEST could come to the UK and Ireland in the long-term via importer EVM as part of that business’s desire to grow its small bus portfolio.
The e-JEST sits at 5.9m, with the first two production examples for EVM recently delivered. Karsan is looking at a potential extension to suit the North American market that would add a 6.5m option. If adopted, it may also be of interest to EVM.
Such a change would add a row to what is otherwise a 12-seat vehicle, but EVM Sales and Marketing Director Peter Flynn says that focus for the potential larger vehicle is carriage of two wheelchair users. Any such lengthening is seen as being up to three years away.
The recently delivered vehicles are capable of around 52mph against 40mph in a seed example that was shown at Euro Bus Expo in 2024. Other improvements have also been made. While the first two production examples have rear-view mirrors, future deliveries will come with a camera monitoring system, although mirrors will remain an option.
88kWh of energy storage is fitted to give a claimed range of around 200km. EVM sees the e-JEST as being particularly suited to demand responsive and shuttle services, while compliance with the PSV Accessible Information Regulations is in hand, Mr Flynn adds.
First trials of the e-JEST with UK operators were scheduled to start in mid-June. Those parties include local authorities, commercial operators, and others such as science parks, he notes. Further examples of the type are due in late summer.
“We believe that there is a place for the e-JEST in the UK market, although it might come with a need for some adaptation to perceptions,” Mr Flynn continues. “This vehicle is built in the same way as a heavyweight bus and it will have a long life; it has a monocoque body that is fully dipped against corrosion, for example.”
On scope to expand the range of small low-floor or low-entry buses supplied by EVM, he sees potential to add examples beyond the e-JEST and the established Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based Cityline and battery-electric e-Cityline.
Six-metre, seven-metre and 8.5-metre examples of purpose-built buses are seen as the ideal in that range. Use of diesel power in further such additions is not ruled out by EVM, although it does not plan to sell the diesel JEST.
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