The prototype is the brainchild of Ganz Transelektro Közlekedési Berendezéseket Gyártó Kft. (Ganz Transelectro Transport Equipment Manufacturing Ltd, or GTKB) and SOR Libchavy, the second-largest manufacturer of buses in theCzech Republic, and was developed at GTKB’s factory in Baja (195 km south of Budapest by road).
The first public trip of the midibus took place in City Park, with journalists invited to take a ride. Based on that, your correspondent can reveal one significant drawback: the air conditioning is horribly weak, meaning the nearly 35 journalists on board almost cooked in the nearly 40°C (104°F) heat during the test run.
“The development of the midibus, from planning to finding the vehicle, selecting and integrating the equipment, writing the software, commissioning, assembly, and construction, took nearly a year and a half. The series product could be completed faster; this is a prototype,” said GTKB development engineer Attila Rónai.
The electric vehicle was developed with the support of a GINOP Plusz grant under the “Encouraging Corporate Research, Development, and Innovation Activities” tender. The bus’ “heart” (its drivetrain), system integration and software were developed by GTKB experts, while SOR supplied the body from its EBN vehicle family.
High Demand, Low Availability
The two companies say they decided to develop the medium-sized midibus because this type of vehicle is in high demand worldwide, especially for urban transportation. One benefit the partnership offers is that technical solutions designed for the Ganz-SOR EBN8 are also suitable for existing members of the EBN family, meaning well-maintained diesel-powered units could be converted to electric operation.
The low-floor design of the prototype makes it accessible for people with disabilities thanks to its foldable ramps. It can comfortably (assuming they fix the aircon) accommodate 45 passengers and has 16 seats. The eight-meter (26-foot) vehicle has a reported range of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles). Ganz has also developed charging equipment, including an OpCharge-type pantograph fast charger and a dual-head, cable-connected 120 kW charging unit.
“The fast charger can charge the midibus in an hour, while the smaller one takes four hours, making it more suitable for overnight charging. The charging devices are already internationally TÜV certified,” Rónai added.
Rudolf Pencz, CEO of GTKB, sees a robust potential market for the vehicle as a practical solution for narrow urban environments, university campuses, tourist attractions, and suburban public transport support.
“There are few midibuses on the international market, as the largest manufacturers do not specialize in this size. We see that the demand for medium-sized urban electric vehicles is growing year by year,” he explains.
Efficient Alternative
“The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated this process, changing transportation trends, with passenger numbers dropping on many routes. The midibus offers an efficient alternative for passenger transportation,” Pencz adds.
Last year, GTKB Kft.’s revenue was HUF 2.5 billion, down from HUF 2.61 bln in 2022, with a net profit of nearly HUF 186 mln, compared to HUF 332 mln the previous year. The company’s average headcount last year exceeded 120 employees.
“GTKB was founded in 2007, but the plant has been serving the Hungarian economy for more than 70 years. We have already made our mark in the production of railway vehicle equipment, signaling devices, switch drives, pantographs, and power electronics,” says Pencz. “With the development and production of the Ganz-SOR midibus, we are entering the e-mobility market.”
The company goes even further. While the spread of e-vehicles helps achieve environmental goals, their power supply poses challenges for the electricity provider. Therefore, the prototype’s innovations focus on exploiting the synergy between transport and energy production by developing an optimized control system that enhances the flexibility of the electrical grid.
With this, the company’s current developments, buses, and charging equipment can be used within renewable energy communities. Thanks to its battery pack, the EV can store or return energy, thus performing energy tasks in addition to public transport.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of July 26, 2024.
