Electric Brands Xbus: In the footsteps of the Smart

The development has taken more than three years and in the middle of the year the Xbus from Electric Brands in Itzehoe should be on the road. Cute looks and flexibility are reminiscent of the ideas of the Swatch car, which became the Smart Fortwo under designer Johann Thomforde and Nicolas Hayek under Daimler direction. But the Xbus from the North German start-up Electric Brands was created around 30 years later and, with a commercial vehicle orientation, relies on an electric drive in keeping with the times. Similar to the Smart of its time, the Xbus wants to score points with its cute and likeable exterior. “The time is ripe for the Xbus,” Ralf Haller, founder of Electric Brands AG, is certain. “When we look at the growing traffic density, bigger and bigger cars cannot be the answer. We need clever, versatile and sustainable concepts that that give us all individual mobility and personal lifestyle – and that without exhaust fumes, but with comfort, the usual range and appropriate speed. And that’s exactly where we come in with the Xbus.” Production in Itzehoe, northern Germany, is scheduled to start in the second quarter.

The 600-kilogram electric flea is 3.96 meters long, 1.64 meters wide and around two meters high, depending on the version. In addition to the normal version, there is an off-roader with significantly more ground clearance – four-wheel drive is standard. The drive is provided by four wheel motors with up to 56 kW / 76 hp, which deliver 15 kW / 20 hp in continuous operation and are therefore intended to transport goods and three people, preferably in the city center. The maximum speed: 100 km/h. Depending on the version, consumption is between 5 and 10 kWh per 100 kilometers. In the basic version with eight battery packs and thus 10 kWh, a range of at least 100 kilometers is possible. Depending on the module, anyone who has integrated the Xbus with solar cells in the roof can extend the range by up to 200 kilometers a day. The battery pack charges up in three to five hours from a standard 220-volt socket; correspondingly shorter with a fast charger with eleven kilowatts. For longer distances, the Xbus can be upgraded with up to 24 additional battery packs. Theoretically, up to 600 kilometers are possible and if you don’t want to lose time recharging, you can exchange the battery packs at special stations.

The Electric Brands Xbus can change like a chameleon and is therefore just as suitable for delivery services, trade and commerce as it is for private leisure use. Two chassis are available for this: the Xbus City and Xbus Offroad. Both versions are available as a base and with eight different modules that can be swapped out by two people in just a few simple steps. “What immediately fascinated me about Ralf Haller’s idea is that it’s basically not just about a vehicle, but a concept with many possibilities,” explains designer Yaroslav Yakovlev, “so I had to design the base and the modules in such a way that they always form a harmonious whole. And everything had to be light. That’s why the door handle recesses, that’s why the small rear cameras are optional instead of the usual mirrors.” As a bus, behind the standard module there is a rear cabin, side doors, tailgate, second row of seats and a cargo area. By folding down the second row of seats and the front passenger seat backrest, there is up to three cubic meters of cargo space. For delivery services, Electric Brands offers a box body and contractors can opt for a tipper. The central structure can be used as a safe for tools or house an additional battery pack. Other bodies are for a leisure convertible, camper or two pick-up versions. The base price: around 20,000 euros. CEO Martin Henne: “I think that the more than 9,000 reservations made on our small website Electric Brands alone and the more than 10,000 pre-orders made by our 600 service and sales partners speak for themselves.”