RECENT SPANISH DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTRIC BUSES. INTERNATIONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE SYMPOSIUM (8TH)

Electric Vehicles Development Association of Spain (ADVE) was founded in 1976 by all the electric utilities of Spain, and the most important makers of electric equipment. Besides other activities, ADVE has promoted and participated in electric vehicles projects of several types: urban car, delivery van, etc. The last prototype developed by ADVE is the compact bus ARCO IRIS. Since 1983, the bus ARCO IRIS is working, in normal commercial conditions, at the transport lines of several Spanish cities. Likewise, the ARCO IRIS hs achieved its first export contracts, with the selling of a 20 bus series to Marrocco-Casablanca, expandable to 200 more units 5 years. Another ADVE project, initiated in 1986, is an urban electric bus prototype of large capacity and easy battery change (motor c.c., 100 kW, 220 V, 4.500 r.p.m.). This one includes a battery trailer, integrated in the body by means of shaft captive technology. Actually, ADVE is working in the Spanish National Program of Electric Vehicles development, conducting an extensive study of the world situation about electric vehicles development and experimentation, with the national plan on new electric technologies and energy diversification.