Yutong to trial U18 articulated electric bus in Australia

[Barry Drive]

Can't remember if I've asked this before, but it's something that's always on my mind.

Are Yutong/Bustech artics for Canberra out of the question, and if not what's the likelihood we'd see them?

I'm glad you asked.

Yutong is intending on bringing their U18 electric articulated model to Australia next year. Reports suggest they will have three demonstrator buses for use by various bus operators.

The U18 is part of Yutong's Europe range and is until now available only in LHD and 2.55m width. The buses to be trialled will have to meet Australian standards - including the 2.5m width requirement and, obviously, be right hand drive.

An article about this new bus can be found here: https://www.busnews.com.au/yutong-prepares-to-introduce-high-capacity-model-to-australia/

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Only 92 passengers? That doesn't seem right. I'm sure if it's put on a school run you could squeeze a lot more in there - hopefully they don't, but they probably will.

I like the inside, but the outside at least to me doesn't seem all that appealing. I took these screenshots from the video provided on the VDI Australia website. Assuming this is the model we're getting, there doesn't appear to be anywhere for the bike rack to latch on to, especially when they showed the front panel in its open state.
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[triumph]

Only 92 passengers? That doesn't seem right. ......

It is my understanding that passenger capacity is based on Tare (as ready for operation) Mass deducted from Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), with the resultant load capacity divided by the (registration authority set) standard mass of an adult human. Since the tare of an EV is greater than the equivalent ICE, it follows that the carrying capacity is less.
(At present, higher tare EV heavy vehicles are not granted any increase in axle loadings, thus nett load/cargo capacity is reduced for these vehicles.)