Isuzu and Hino plan to begin production of battery electric vehicle (BEV) flat-floor route buses starting in 2024 at the Isuzu-Hino joint-venture J-Bus Ltd.

The BEV flat-floor route bus planned for production start in 2024 will be developed by Isuzu, and the adoption of a BEV powertrain, which will provide zero CO2 emissions during vehicle use. Also, toward achieving zero onboard accidents, by taking advantage of the freedom of layout afforded by BEVs, the flat-floor area of the bus’s interior can be greatly expanded compared to conventional non-step buses, significantly improving travel safety.

Meanwhile, Isuzu, Hino, and Toyota will study and develop next-generation Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) route buses.

The next-generation FCEV route bus will combine the platform of the BEV flat-floor route bus scheduled for launch in 2024, with Toyota’s fully developed fuel cell system found in the Toyota Mirai and the Sora fuel cell bus. By sharing the same components between BEVs and FCEVs, Isuzu, Hino, and Toyota aim to significantly reduce costs, and by adopting new-generation fuel cell stacks and utilizing Toyota and Hino’s FCEV bus development know-how to date, they aim to provide longer-life, higher-added-value electrified vehicles.