Switch Mobility has relaunched its E1 battery-electric bus for mainland European markets and beyond and says that the first two such production vehicles for a customer in Spain are in the process of being shipped from its factory in Sherburn-in-Elmet.
The E1 was first shown by Switch Mobility in mid-2022. A spokesperson has confirmed that the relaunched bus is the same as seen then, with 385kWh of battery capacity and scope for up to 93 passengers with its three-door, fully low-floor layout.
Plans are now in hand to sell the model “across Europe.” Discussions are underway with potential buyers in countries within that continent and trials in the Middle East will begin soon, the manufacturer says.
Switch Mobility Chairman Dheeraj Hinduja says that the business has “enormous pride” in having designed and built the E1 in the UK.
“This is a pivotal moment for us as we look to grow our business in the UK and beyond, and over time we expect the vehicle to make an important contribution to the UK’s electric automotive exports,” Mr Hinduja continues.
“We look forward to announcing more European sales in due course and to advancing our long-term vision to democratise electric mobility on a global scale.”
Adds CEO Mahesh Babu: “We are delighted to unveil the Switch E1 in Europe, a design built on our global EV architecture. The Switch E1 has crafted the EV technology to deliver efficiency, passenger comfort and best-in-class safety for all. As pioneers in the electric vehicle sector, we are thrilled to be contributing to a more sustainable future.”
In 2022, Ashok Leyland subsidiary Switch said that the E1 was to be one of the lightest 12m battery-electric buses in the European market, weighing under 10,800kg unladen. ZF hub motors and NMC battery chemistry form part of the package.
