17 October 2013
stand n°944
Press Release
SAFRA presents the first multi-hybrid
electric vehicle at the Busworld Exhibition, Courtrai.
From 18 to 23 October, SAFRA will present its revolutionary design at the
International Busworld Exhibition, held at Kortrijk in Belgium. This major innovation is
a unique urban transport vehicle with multi-hybrid electric motorization.
The Businova is destined for the French and European public transport networks, and its
performance is unrivalled in terms of respect for the environment, design, capacity and
technology. The vehicle combines two key features, protected by patents: the bi-modular
chassis and the multi-hybrid propulsion system.
This innovative breakthrough in the urban bus market also offers lowest cost of ownership,
proving a genuine investment return. The hybrid bus consumes three times less than a
traditional bus: 15ltr/100km against 45ltr/100km for the traditional model.
Currently awaiting approval by the Ministry of Transport, the vehicle is undergoing its final
tests at the UTAC testing laboratories in France. The first four vehicles in production at the
Albigeois workshops are already sold. From the end of 2013 the first Businova will run on the
Toulouse network as an 8 month experiment, as well as on networks in the towns of Gaillac
and Albi.
Chosen by GART (Group of Authorities Responsible for Transport), the project is also
supported by the AGIR (Independent Public Transport) network, an independent association
created in accordance with the 1901 French law, which brought together the organizing
bodies for public transport and independent transport enterprises. This project benefits
equally from the financial support of Oseo (a French public sector institution dedicated to the
economic development of small and medium enterprises) and the Caisse d’Epargne
Business Centre. The project is accredited by the VIA MECA competitive cluster, innovation
accelerator for the engineering industry, as well as by ADEME (French Environment and
Energy Management Agency) in the call for expressions of interest (AMI) from heavy duty
road vehicles.
A word about the enterprise: SAFRA, the Albigeois Organization for Motor Vehicle Manufacture and
Repair, created in 1955, has for its main activity the repair and renovation of all types of urban
transport, bus, metro, tramway, train, etc. For several months the company has been working on a
Research and Development project with the aim of designing a revolutionary vehicle...the bus of the
future. After 58 years in the business, SAFRA once again demonstrates the strength of its
manufacturing skill, a truly ambitious challenge for this Albigeois operation.
Press contact:
Emmanuelle Saux – Communication & Marketing Manager
5 rue Copernic – 81000 Albi – France
+33 5 63 48 44 10 – e.saux@safra.fr