JMS 2023: Isuzu brings out premiere flat-floor battery-powered bus

TOKYO: Isuzu is making its mark in the electric vehicle (EV) category as it has revealed the first-ever battery-electric-powered flat floor bus at the opening day of this year’s Japan Mobility Show.

Dubbed the Isuzu Erga EV, the newly-unveiled flat-floor bus comes with battery electric vehicle technology that makes its environment friendly. In addition, the vehicle also boasts improved passenger safety features.

The said bus has a no-step layout to ensure that passengers can easily board or alight the vehicle. Seats are engineered without steps to make the inside the bus barrier-free.

Powered by an electric motor, the Isuzu Erga EV guarantees low noise and vibration as well as smooth acceleration and deceleration.

Per Isuzu, the aforementioned bus will be introduced in Japan no later than March 2025.

Relatedly, the Japanese automotive marque also highlighted the Isuzu Giga Fuel Cell and Elf EV at the exposition.

A product of the Isuzu-Honda collaboration that began in 2020, the Giga Fuel Cell’s mill is an AC synchronous electric motor that can dish out up 429 horsepower (320 kilowatts). It harnesses power from a hydrogen system that has a filling pressure of 70 Megapascal and can carry 56 kilograms of hydrogen with a solid polymer fuel cell stack from Honda.

Its lithium-ion battery allows the vehicle to cover as much as 800 kilometers. Aside from that, the heavy-duty truck can act as a mobile power station as it comes with an external output function — with a maximum power supply of 530 kilowatt-hours.

Known as the Isuzu C and E series in the Philippines, Isuzu Giga Fuel Cell displayed at the site is 11,980 millimeters (mm) long, 2,490mm wide, and 3,770mm tall with a weight of 25 tons, and has a  Lowdeck 8x4 rigid truck configuration.

Isuzu said that it is eyeing to introduce the production model to the market in 2027 and has plans to commence demonstration testing on public roads before March 31 next year.

Meanwhile, the BEV version of the Elf (known locally as the N-Series), is the brand’s premiere mass-produced battery-electric vehicle. The light-duty truck is expected to be part of the Isuzu N-Series lineup soon.

Sharing the same platform as with the diesel version, the Isuzu Elf EV will also be offered in numerous configurations and trims.

According to Isuzu, the Elf EV will allow customers to start the shift to electrified mobility without sacrificing the convenience of diesel vehicles. The vehicle’s rollout to markets outside Japan will be conducted in stages.

To recall, the first-generation ELF was launched more than 60 years back.

To bolster the ELF EV’s introduction, Isuzu also came up with the EVision solutions program that is meant to aid its clients achieve carbon neutrality through supporting the initial feasibility phase of commercial BEV introduction; addressing issues related to EV introduction; quantifying the benefits of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions; and proposing further improvements.

Isuzu noted that the program simulates the feasibility of introducing BEV — together with the selection and management of chargers, electricity plans, CO2 reduction levels.

The Giga Fuel Cell and ELF EV were made in line with the Isuzu Group’s four-fold carbon-neutral (CN) solutions shared during the company’s presentation at the Japan Mobility Show 2023.

The Group’s vision of a carbon neutral world, the firm explained, is supported in four ways: Isuzu Environmental Vision 2050; CN initiatives at the Group’s manufacturing plants; the society of tomorrow and CN vehicle initiatives; and initiatives for CN fuels.

Photos from Ruben Manahan IV

Also read:

Isuzu PH gives customers chance to go to Tokyo for latest promo

Isuzu boosts safety features of Elf commercial truck

More Isuzu modern PUVs to ply Mindoro