On March 31, local time, the Municipality of Quito, Ecuador held a grand ceremony to celebrate the official launch of 60 new Yutong dual-source trolleybuses. Themed "A New Lease on Life for Quito," the event symbolized a "green handshake" across the Andes Mountains, marking a new chapter of pragmatic cooperation on the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Ecuador.

Mayor Pabel Muñoz of Quito had been looking forward to this moment for a long time. At the ceremony, he said that the launch of the new fleet had fulfilled the long-held "dream" of Quitenos for public transport upgrades and energy conservation and emission reduction. "The emission reduction effect brought about by the new trolleybuses is equivalent to planting 400,000 trees," Muñoz said.

Ecuador has introduced its first batch of 60 Yutong dual-source trolleybuses, all of which will be put into operation on the main lines of the capital, providing efficient and environmentally friendly travel services to over 2 million citizens. Quito is deeply integrating new energy transportation infrastructure with urban renewal and transforming sustainable development goals into accessible benefits for the people.

As a high-altitude metropolis in South America, Quito has long faced the dual challenges of traffic congestion and environmental pollution. Although it has operated an Electric Bus Rapid Transit (EBRT) system since the 1990s, the aging of vehicles has become increasingly prominent, and operational efficiency has continued to decline. Drawing on the successful experience of Mexico City, Quito has introduced Yutong dual-source trolleybuses to enhance public transport capacity and environmental efficiency, helping the city achieve traffic optimization and upgrades.

With its dedicated right-of-way and high capacity, the BRT system has become a key solution for alleviating urban traffic pressure. In particular, the main lines adopt a smooth, linear layout with few turns, providing an ideal operating environment for articulated "long-segment" vehicles.

This batch of dual-source trolleybuses will be put into operation on the core EBRT trunk line in the capital. This "golden corridor," which has borne the main passenger transport task of the city since the 1990s, will take the lead in completing a splendid transformation from a traditional high-floor EBRT to a modern new energy system.

The 18.25-meter high-floor model developed by Yutong specifically for Ecuador can accommodate 160 passengers, demonstrating the innovative value of the "EBRT + dual-source trolleybus" model. The combination of dual-side door design and platform levelers achieves seamless connection with the existing infrastructure. This "tailor-made" customization concept minimizes the cost of system transformation.

This model adopts Yutong's self-developed second-generation pantograph system, isolated DC/DC converters, and other proprietary configurations. It not only retains the advantages of traditional trams in terms of high capacity, but its innovative dual-source power supply system also breaks through the line limitations of traditional trams. It can switch to battery power on non-catenary sections, providing significantly optimized line planning flexibility for bus operations in this mountainous city.

Yutong dual-source trolleybuses are driven by both overhead wires and batteries, enabling regenerative braking. Coupled with an efficient motor drive system, they can reduce energy consumption by 30-40% compared to traditional single-source trolleybuses, significantly lowering operational energy consumption. Their ultra-low noise operation significantly reduces urban traffic noise pollution, providing passengers with a more comfortable riding experience. At the same time, the innovative modular design not only simplifies maintenance procedures but also effectively reduces maintenance costs, comprehensively improving the operational efficiency throughout the vehicle's lifecycle.

At the delivery ceremony, a veteran driver with 16 years of experience said, "Driving new energy buses is a profound technological innovation experience. Adapting to it initially did require breaking through traditional driving habits, but the systematic training provided by the Yutong service team allowed us to fully master the operating skills." He specifically mentioned that the new energy fleet has achieved 100% professional transformation. "Nowadays, the power response and quietness of new energy buses far exceed expectations, allowing drivers to handle complex road conditions more calmly."

Source : www.chinabuses.org

Editor : Isabella

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