A prototype right-hand drive 12m example from a new range of zero-emission buses built by CaetanoBus is expected to debut in 2026, the Portuguese manufacturer has told routeone.
The range in left-hand drive includes 8.5m, 12m and 18m examples, with the latter articulated configuration including a version for bus rapid transit use with doors on both sides.
Battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell-electric power is available in the new line-up, which retains the e.City Gold and H2.City Gold names, respectively. “Extremely reliable state-of-the-art components” from Chinese railway rolling stock manufacturer CRRC make up the powertrain, including a six-in-one inverter system.
Batteries are from CATL. CaetanoBus says that the 12m battery-electric example of its new zero-emission model has up to 465kWh of storage. The 8.5m model comes with a maximum of 266kWh and the articulated variant up to 700kWh.
The builder adds that the CATL BC5 technology used includes high energy density lithium iron phosphate cells with a life of over 4,000 charge cycles and what it says is “minimal degradation over time.”
In hydrogen-powered variants, Toyota continues to provide fuel cells. A Fuel Cell Stack Generation 2.5 delivers 70kW. The 12m hydrogen bus has 130kWh of energy storage, also in CATL batteries.
CaetanoBus Chief Commercial Officer Nuno Lage de Carvalho says: “Through the joint development efforts of CaetanoBus and CRRC combined with rigorous software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing, the new generation of Caetano buses represents the forefront of e-mobility engineering, delivering exceptional reliability, performance and safety for a smarter, more sustainable transportation future.
“We are equally proud of our ability to scale this innovation across the entire Caetano product range, from 8.5m to 18m buses, using a common platform that supports both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
“This unified approach ensures maximum flexibility, efficiency, and the seamless integration of cutting-edge systems across all vehicle configurations.”
The existing Caetano e.City Gold and H2.City Gold models have both been built in right-hand drive. Transport UK London Bus operates over 40 of the battery-electric examples, while a demonstrator hydrogen model was built in 2020.
