After being previewed at last year’s Japan Mobility Show (JMS), Isuzu Motors Limited has officially started the retail operations for the Erga EV model in its home country.

The Yokohama-headquartered marque noted that the aforementioned battery electric vehicle is the first bus in Japan to have fully flat floor design.

Per Isuzu, the short wheelbase urban model “will be at the forefront of introducing next-generation buses in Japan, driving the momentum towards carbon neutrality in public transportation.”

Erga EV specifications

The Isuzu Erga EV is 10,545 millimeters (mm) long; 2,485 mm wide; and 3,330 mm tall with a 4,990-mm wheelbase. Such dimensions allows the electrified public utility vehicle to fit in 70 seats and has a minimum turning radius of 7.8 mm.

Propelling the Isuzu Erga EV are AC induction motors fitted into each side of the rear axle, energized by the high-voltage lithium-ion battery placed on the roof and under the floor — allowing a lowered floor design for improved passenger convenience and safety.

Since it runs on electric motors, it guarantees smooth acceleration as well as reduced noise and vibration.

In addition, the battery can store up to 245 kilowatt-hour of juice and be recharged from 20-80 percent in 3.2 hours. Should the need arise, the Isuzu Erga EV has a vehicle-to-load capability wherein it can power home appliances.

The engine-battery combo gives the bus a range of up to 360 kilometers (driven under constant speed of 30 kilometers per hour, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism).

Isuzu noted that the Erga EV is also the first route bus in Japan to be equipped with a driver status monitor and emergency driving stop system, which detect driver abnormalities and bring the vehicle to a safe stop even on a slope. It also has a slew of driver assistive technologies such as the blind spot monitor that detects and alerts the driver of pedestrians or bicycles beside the bus to prevent possible accidents.

Further, the company is eyeing to sell 150 examples of the Isuzu Erga EV, which is priced at around JPY 65.781 million (approximately P24.274 million) annually.

Photos from Isuzu, Ruben Manahan IV

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