Otokar launches electric bus

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Turkish bus maker Otokar has produced Turkey’s first electric bus, the Doruk Electra, which runs completely on electricity.

Otokar had been working to develop and produce the electric bus for three years, according to Otokar’s general manager, Serdar Görgüç.

“When you imagine that 32.7 percent of Istanbul’s public transportation is comprised of buses, we realize how important it is to come up with alternative fuel sources and we feel at Otokar that we’ve made the right decision with this project,” said Görgüç.

Doruk Electra produces zero emissions with minimal vibration and sound. The bus will be able to function for six to eight hours and cover a distance of 170 kilometers in heavy traffic with a maximum load of passengers after having been charged. In addition, the bus has an onboard charging unit to recharge itself while waiting at bus stops, according to Görgüç.