China-made electric buses on trial in Europe

This month Europe's largest intercity bus operator, FlixBus, launched a trial of the continent's first bus route that uses only electric buses, reports Chinanews.com. FlixBus CEO Jochen Engert made the announcement at a press conference in Berlin on Wednesday.

CEO of FlixBus, Jochen Engert (left), speaks at a press conference in Berlin on Wednesday, April 4, 2018. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The long-distance passenger service will link Paris with the city of Amiens in northern France.

Chinese manufacturers Yutong and BYD are supplying the buses. Yutong's model ICe12 and BYD's model C9 are reportedly performing well in trials on the 160-kilometer-long route.

A Yutong electric bus on display at an international auto show in Shanghai on Friday, June 10, 2016. [File photo: IC]

Explaining why the company decided to use Chinese-made buses, the FlixBus CEO said that Europe has no vehicles comparable to those available from China. "Chinese companies have a large technology input in this field and have gained plenty of experience in urban public transport, which makes us willing to cooperate with them," he said.

Munich-based FlixBus plans to launch another all-electric bus route in Germany next year.