Italian car design company Pininfarina has unveiled an innovative Pininfarina range-extended hybrid bus concept named Hybus, which uses an existing bus platform, matched with a modern hybrid powertrain setup.
Pininfarina has converted a 17-year-old Iveco bus design to take a 1.3-liter Multi-jet diesel power unit coupled to an electric generator, which provides energy to the main lithium-ion battery pack. The original rear axle and drive-line remains and is driven by two Magneti Marelli electric motors mated to a collector-reduction gearbox.
Special electro-powered units give hydraulic and pneumatic services.
The lithium-ion battery pack and the Battery Management System are supplied by FAAM and the new powerplant and ancillaries management is integrated with the basic original electrical/electronic design.
Thanks to the energy management software developed in collaboration with partners, Hybus recovers energy during braking.
A specific range or plug-in recharge time hasn’t been mentioned.
The Hybus was created as a solution for fighting pollution in Turin, Pininfarina’s home city, and the company estimates that adapting old buses to run with the new technology is about 60 percent cheaper than buying new hybrid vehicles.
Hybus was developed at Pininfarina’s Design and Engineering Centre, and is the result of the company’s decision to focus some of its resources on hybrid and electric mobility. Earlier this month Pininfarina announced that it is giving up the car body building part of its business, although it will continue its design and engineering services.
Hybus, the hybrid bus developed by Pininfarina, debuted in Piazza Duomo, in Milan, at MobilityTech, the international forum on technological innovation for the development of mobility and transport, where Pininfarina also displayed the Nido electric city car prototype that was launched in 2010.
