A new, game-changing bus could make public transportation way more efficient — here’s what makes it so unique

Dutch company Ebusco, which makes electric buses and charging infrastructures, is rolling out a lightweight and energy-efficient electric bus.

Ebusco released the first official 3.0 bus to the public streets of Hilversum in the Netherlands, Electrek reported, in June 2023. The electric bus is 27% lighter than traditional buses of its kind.

That weight difference matters more than you might think. The heavier an electric vehicle is, the more energy its battery must expel to keep it moving, which generally results in a reduced range. Alternatively, in lighter vehicles, the battery doesn’t have to work as hard, so it enjoys a longer lifespan.

Ebusco said the 3.0 consumes “extremely low energy,” according to Electrek. The 3.0 bus comes in two sizes — 12 and 18 meters (39 and 59 feet) — that have ranges of 357 and 435 miles, respectively.

The bus is named the 3.0 because it is not the first model from Ebusco. Ebusco, the first European manufacturer to be approved for the production of electric buses, per its website, has been working on this new model for a decade.