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BAE Systems establishes a partnership to supply electric driving systems in the country

Brazil is the first South American country in a project focusing on bus and heavy trucks electrification

By Décio Costa | 2/16/23 | Translated by Jorge Meditsch

BAE Systems, a company specializing in electric drive technologies, is negotiating with a customer in Brazil to supply battery systems for heavy vehicles.

While visiting the country this week, Steve Trichka, the company’s vice-president, said it only lacks the contract signature with the customer, whom he kept secret due to a confidentiality agreement. ‘A truck prototype is waiting only for high-voltage cables to be ready’, he said.

According to Trichka’s expectations, the model shall be presented at the BusWorld Latin America in Argentina from July 14 to 16. Although the fair specializes in buses, the executive believes the fair will be opportune, as the system can also be used in buses.

According to Trichka, the project should be more advanced, but it was delayed for the lack of components. Only last year, the company lacked to deliver one-third of the normal volume of systems, about two thousand units a year. In 2023, it shall be 1.8 thousand.

“In some cases, the lack of cheap components of about US$ 2, as capacitors, blocked deliveries. As our volumes are low, the suppliers prioritize large-demand industries.’

BAE Systems has a strong presence in heavy vehicles, especially buses, in North America and Europe. Among its partners are New Flyer, Eldorado, Nova Bus, Gillig, Hometown, SolarisBus, Iveco and Alexander Dennis. Only in New York City are about 1.7 thousand electrified buses equipped with the company’s electrified drive technology.

Consolidated in mature markets, Trichka considers South America a way to grow. “The challenge is the price. As an electric bus costs US$ 500 thousand in the United States, one and a half times the price of a diesel one, it costs three times more here.”