Everyone remembers the famous, school buses from the USA. Even those who have never been to the States have seen these cars, as they were shown in many movies. I think they can even be called a symbol of America. But time goes on and it changes a lot of things. I think the Canadian company Lion Electric is sensitive to such changes. That’s why they have just launched a school bus with a traditional appearance, but with an electric motor.
To tell you the truth – I learned about this company from Canada not long ago. But I was very interested in their activities and of course their cars. As I realized, – the main products of Lion Electric are buses on electric traction and in this area, today, the Canadian company is a leader. Lion has been around since 2008, and the C model bus has been produced since 2016. Earlier we paid attention to Lion5 and Lion8 Tractor trucks, which were presented not so long ago.
This time we will talk about the LionC Electric bus, equipped with an energy recovery system. The latter increases the range of travel by 20%.
Price and cost of LionC Electric.
Friends, I tried to find information about the cost of Lion buses, but I failed. Therefore, if suddenly you want to buy such a bus on electric traction, it is better to address directly to the manufacturer. And by the way, the assembly of these vehicles is made not only in Canada, but also in the USA, in Illinois.
Appearance and photo of LionC Electric.
At first glance, – this is a traditional American bus with straight and flat body panels and a long hood. But it should be said at once that the body panels here are not metal, but composite. Pay attention to the parking lights on the roof – they also serve as charging indicators! Thanks to this solution, the driver will understand how charged the bus is, even without coming close to it. In the area where the grille is usually located, there is a charging port.
On the right side of the body there is a box hatch for the diesel heater. The interior can be heated by this method, or with an electric heater. On the left side of the body can be an additional door, which is mandatory in some states. Also on the left side, under the driver’s window, there is a hatch with a fuse box.
Blue bumpers have been a trademark of Lion Electric cars for a long time, or rather from the very beginning. Blue painted bumpers speak of electric traction. In the basic configuration, the wheel rims are painted black, but they can also be painted blue on request.
The mirrors on the hood are heated, which is also useful in many states. In general, the appearance of this bus is very traditional for the USA and that is the plus point of this vehicle.
LionC Electric interior and equipment.
It is noteworthy that this bus is equipped with analog instrumentation. I have not met such a solution on any, passenger electric car. Of course – this is a commercial technique, but the electric motor itself is perceived as something new. Unless, of course, you think of the early 20th century companies like Baker or Detroit Electric. Thus the display on the center console here is touch screen and among various information on it the level of charging is displayed. And by the way, – there is a key and ignition lock, which should please drivers who previously drove diesel buses.
The steering wheel can be adjusted in both directions, and the interior of the bus can accommodate 70 people. There are escape hatches on the roof, and the passenger seats can be equipped with seat belts.
LionC Electric Specifications.
To lift the hood on this bus, you need to take hold of the large emblem, – it acts as a handle. Three battery options are available for the LionC. So the battery capacity of 210 kilowatts powers the engine with a capacity of 365kW (489 horsepower) and torque of 2860N.M. This bus is able to reach a maximum speed of 95 kilometers per hour. As far as I understand, it will take 6 hours to charge the battery from 20% to maximum.
Under the hood, you can see the coolant tanks. There are two coolant reservoirs – one is for heating the interior, and the second is for cooling the engine and battery cells. In addition, under the hood there is a tank with brake fluid, a tank with fluid for hydraulic power steering and a tank of windshield wipers. By the way, by the photo you can notice the steering column by TRW. Under the hood there is a klaxon, which emits a special tune when the bus speed drops below 17 mph. This is done so that the bus does not pass the stop unnoticed.
In my opinion this is a very interesting technique. The only question is to what extent this technology corresponds to the times. Today we can say with certainty that electric cars have already won their niche and their customers, but in the field of trucks and commercial vehicles this road has not yet been traveled, and so far buses and trucks with diesel engines are the undisputed sales leaders. But if the demand for electric-powered commercial vehicles grows in the near future, Lion will be in an advantageous position.
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