Hitachi Europe and Shenzhen Bus Group are working together to assist European bus operators to electrify their fleets. The partners will offer joint planning services for customers making the shift, and change management and training will also form part of the ‘as a service’ offering from Hitachi.
Shenzhen Bus Group has what Hitachi describes as “a wealth of operational experience” of battery-electric buses, having converted its own fleet of over 10,000 such vehicles. That will work well with Hitachi’s own knowledge of charging infrastructure, delivering mobility as a service and managing commercial fleets, and the partnership “will help customers to accelerate electrification of their fleets.”
Says Hitachi Europe Head of EV Mike Nugent: “Shenzhen Bus Group is a world leader in bus fleet electrification. Our future partnership is another key element of our decarbonisation solution suite that brings the best qualities of our respective organisations to European bus fleets to help simplify and accelerate estate-wide rollout programmes.”
Adds Shenzhen Bus Group Deputy General Manager Joe Ma (pictured): “Over a decade ago, we embarked on the fleet electrification journey, and we have learned many lessons and gained a lot of experience in commissioning electric vehicles.
“We are proud and honoured to be partnering with Hitachi Europe in sharing our experience with fellow European transportation operators on their journey to becoming zero carbon emission mobility providers.”
Shenzhen Bus Group’s adoption of battery-electric buses has resulted in around 48% less CO2 and much fewer pollutants. Hitachi is a Principal Partner of the COP26 climate change conference and it is a member of the UN Race to Zero campaign through the Business Ambition for 1.5oC.