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Higer AZURE Electric undertakes successful East-South “Compass Challenge” Nationwide BEV Range Distance Demonstration Drives underway Earlier this month Fleet Bus & Coach, in association with Harris Bus & Coach, participated in a unique East-South battery electric vehicle (BEV) range distance test trial from Dublin to Cork in the new Higer AZURE 12m zero-emission commuter bus. Called the Compass
Challenge, the all-electric AZURE will travel to the four corners of Ireland to demonstrate its high levels of design, technology and range distance to customers. The inaugural trip headed down the N7 to Leeside and although this was not a normal test drive route for this type of vehicle, the experience proved beneficial with excellent results. The Harris Group – Higer Partnership Higer is China’s leading producer and exporter of buses and coaches, established in 1998 and based in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The company operates
FLEETBUS&COACH| SUMMER 2021
an 800,000 square metre manufacturing base and distributes to more than 100 countries and territories worldwide. Higer buses and coaches are imported into Ireland by the Harris Group in Dublin and are optimised specifically for Irish and UK passenger transport operations. Using over 50 years of experience and expertise from truck assembly, the Harris Group, through its Bus & Coach division, puts its own stamp on the buses and coaches, adding optional extras, some of which are fitted at assembly, with more fitted on arrival in Dublin. With Harris Bus & Coach there is a strong focus on customers and their particular fleet requirements and type of operation. One of the strengths of the now well-established relationship between Harris and Higer is the closeness between technicians in both countries with any issues addressed in a timely manner. The Road to Cork One of the big challenges and concerns for drivers of electric buses is the so-called ‘range anxiety’. However, that shouldn’t be an issue with the Higer AZURE as, after extensive testing and ongoing development,
it can now achieve a range of up to 400km. This was validated on our non-stop 250km journey to Cork, where, upon arrival at the Dean Hotel, a 50% battery range still remained, which was impressive. Even on the non-electric friendly motorway route the AZURE still managed to achieve some re-generation of the battery pack along the journey. On its arrival in Cork, local people and delegates were given the opportunity to
