Keio University, Isuzu Motors Ltd, the Kanagawa prefectural government and other parties recently announced that they will work together to develop a large-size electric bus. This project is expected to complete by autumn next year, and testing will begin before the vehicle enters volume production in the Kanagawa Prefecture the year after that. The final product aims to end up as an electric bus with a flat and low-height floor, boasting a secondary Li-ion battery that holds a capacity of 120kWh. It ought to have a range of 150km on a single charge, which is more than enough for the average travel distance of a normal shuttle bus in Japan which clocks up around 120km/day. The running cost will be greatly lowered to 10% that of a diesel engine bus, not to mention costing half the price for a diesel engine bus as well, helping one save both money, power and the environment simultaneously. What’s there not to like?
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