Dancer buses introduced at Busworld in Brussels

Vėjo Projektai, a company developing fully electric Dancer buses in the Klaipėda FEZ, introduced itself to the world last week at Busworld 2023 in Brussels – one of the most important passenger transport events attended by tens of thousands of people.

According to the company, visitors were most impressed by the exceptional design, lightness and cutting-edge technologies of the Lithuanian bus. The company hints that in the future, the Klaipėda-made bus will be seen not only on the streets of its hometown, but also in other European cities.

“We hope that the Dancer buses will soon be seen not only in Lithuania – two of our models and the e-mobility solutions offered with them have been of interest at the exhibition by passenger carriers from the Nordic countries, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and other European countries,” says Alvydas Naujėkas, the CEO of Dancer.

Busworld 2023 is one of the most important events in passenger transport, revealing the future of the sector. It is a good opportunity to meet industry leaders, potential partners and customers.

Visitors the Dancer bus stand could learn all about the two technologically advanced, 100% electric Dancer bus models – the fast-charging Dancer (FC 75) and the long-range Dancer (LR 530). The low-floor electric buses produced and operated in Lithuania have already saved almost half a million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

The fast-charging Dancer (FC 75), designed for dynamic cities, has an extremely fast charging time of just 8 minutes. The bus is also extremely economical, with an average energy consumption of 0.72 kWh/km, allowing it to cover up to 100 km on a single charge. These technical features, together with fast charging, make it easy to operate in urban areas.

The long-range Dancer (LR 530) model can cover an impressive 530 km on a single charge. This endurance is thanks to the ultra-high-capacity NMC lithium-ion batteries. Recharging to 100% takes between one and four hours, making it easy for operators to plan public transport schedules.

Dancer aims to become a competitive contender in the 12-metre bus category, competing with both European and Chinese manufacturers. The company is focusing heavily on weight reduction and body construction, and is aiming for the highest level of functionality.

“We have been looking for new solutions for the body structure, so Dancer engineers have developed a new generation of composite materials in collaboration with leading universities and well-known wind turbine blade manufacturers. The body is strong and lightweight, while the use of recycled plastics from the oceans ensures sustainability. Composite materials have replaced metal in many places, including the chassis,” says Naujėkas.

Dancer buses have been on the streets of Klaipėda for about four years. The Lithuanian electric buses are designed and manufactured at the Klaipėda FEZ.