Scania 2-door Electric Bus for Singapore

Scania electric bus
Scania electric bus
Manufacturer	Scania (chassis)
Bodywork	Gemilang Coachworks
Years in operation	TBA
Operators	TBA
Technical Data
Length	12 metre
Motor	Electric motor
Battery	TBC
Accessibility	TBC
Emission Standard	Zero tailpipe emissions

In January 2023, Swedish bus manufacturer Scania brought in an electric two-door city bus for the Singapore market. This bus is likely built on the Scania C-Chassis and assembled in Malaysia by Gemilang Coachworks, based on the Scania Citywide integral bus design. The model name of the final vehicle is to be confirmed.

This is Scania’s first foray into Singapore’s electric bus scene and comes at a time when the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is preparing to rapidly electrify the public bus fleet. Half of all public buses will be electric by 2030, which is about 3,000 buses.

Locally, Scania previously delivered 1,101 Scania K230UB diesel buses to SBS Transit, also bodied by Gemilang Coachworks. Registered between 2007 and 2010, these buses will reach their statutory retirement age next year (2024) and some of these buses have already retired early.

Chassis Background

Scania unveiled its fully-electric Scania Citywide bus back in October 2019, with a similar electric drivetrain offered as the Scania C-Chassis. Both the bus and chassis can be configured as rigid or articulated buses, with either a Euro 6 combustion engine or full-electric powertrain.

For the electric version, Scania offers a 300 kW electric motor paired with a two-speed gearbox to optimise energy consumption. Traction batteries are of the Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide variety, better known as Lithium NMC. Battery capacities of 254 kWh or 330 kWh are available, configured as 8 or 10 battery packs with 4 in the rear and 4 or 6 on the roof. Both conventional depot charging and opportunity charging modes are compatible.

Other buses built on Scania’s C-chassis include the Nelec electric bus by Carrocera Castrosua, as well as upcoming orders for the Australian market.

Bodywork

Although the Scania Citywide is available as an integral bus built in Europe, the Singapore demonstrator is built by Malaysia-based coachbuilder Gemilang Coachworks.

The positioning of the drivetrain and cooling components on the left side of the chassis makes it difficult to integrate a third door into the bus’ design, making this bus an oddity among the many new electric three-door demonstrator buses supplied to the Singapore market. The Volvo BZL – SC Neustar City also uses a conventional driveshaft layout mounted to the left of the chassis, but still manages to position the third door behind the drivetrain.

Technical Specifications

Scania C-Chassis
Electric Driveline	Electric motor – Maximum power/torque of 300 kW / 2100 Nm – Continuous power of 250 kW (R85) – Two-speed speed adapter gearbox
Energy Storage	Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) traction batteries – Either 8 or 10 battery packs (total 254 kWh or 330 kWh)
Bodywork	Gemilang Coachworks bodywork EcoRange aluminium bus body; full-low-floor layout