Hino Motors, Ltd. plans to launch the Hino Poncho Z EV light-duty electric vehicle (EV) bus in mid-2022 in Japan.
The Hino Poncho light-duty low floor non-step diesel bus launched in 2002 has been widely adopted throughout Japan for community transportation purposes, and is a popular choice in Australia with on-demand services.
The new Hino Poncho Z EV keeps the features of the Hino Poncho, including universal design that makes it user-friendly for everyone, and provides cleaner transportation through electrification.
Its large full-flat area and low floor non-step structure enable easier boarding and moving inside the bus, making it a user-friendly option for all passengers, including users of wheelchairs and prams.
It has a simple and appealingly rounded exterior, and being an EV means it is zero-emission and low-noise, making it an excellent choice for communities.
It is also highly agile for manoeuvring through narrow city streets and provides a cruising range sufficient for a community bus, making it a very practical option.
In Japan, this model will also be included in the line-up of vehicles by CUBE-LINX, as a vehicle to be used by e-mobility optimised operation management businesses.
CUBE-LINX is a joint venture established in May 2021 by Hino Motors, Ltd. and Kansai Electric Power Company that provides solutions to issues in e-mobility adoption and operation.
It offers packaged solutions with EVs, charging facilities, IT systems, and operation according to user needs for a monthly fee.
Hino has declared its initiatives to achieve zero environmental impact as part of its Hino Environmental Challenge 2050 issued in 2017.
The company is accelerating its efforts, and in April 2021 it established mid-term targets in its Hino Environmental Milestone 2030.
To achieve carbon neutrality, it is pursuing all possible measures, not only for its own products but also in a wide range of strategies based on a life cycle assessment of vehicles from production to disposal.
The Hino Poncho Z EV, along with the solutions from CUBE-LINX, will contribute to reducing CO2 emissions by promoting the widespread use of electric vehicles.
Hino will continue to pursue a variety of measures from the perspectives of customers and society, including greater use of e-mobility as a useful solution for businesses.
Main Specifications
| Dimensions (length x width x height) |
6,990 x 2,090 x 3,060 (mm) |
| Gross vehicle weight |
Approx. 8,000kg |
| Capacity |
Approx. 30 (varies with seat layout) |
| Battery |
Type: Lithium ion battery
Capacity: 105kW
|
| Motor |
Max. output: 161kW |
| Charging method |
Quick charge (CHAdeMO method) |