Exel Composites has supplied fibreglass profiles for 33 electric buses to Chinese bus and coach manufacturer Yutong which in turn has delivered these to Helsinki, Finland. Introduction of the electric buses is part of Finland’s goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by five million kilograms a year. Light weight fibreglass increases energy efficiency.

Headquartered in Vantaa, Finland, the company designs and manufactures some of the largest and most complex carbon fibre and fibreglass composite profiles on the market. The fibreglass panels delivered to Yutong were manufactured in China, and included the skirt and side panels for the electric buses. Yutong delivered the buses to the Finnish bus and road operator, Pohjolan Liikenne.

The delivery of the electric buses is the first time that Yutong, which became the first listed bus company in China in 1997, has entered the Finnish market. This is also the largest volume of buses that Finland has purchased from overseas. The country, which is already renowned for its safety and efficiency when it comes to public transport, aims to have 400 electric buses operating in the capital by 2025.

“Light weight fibreglass was important to this project as it reduces operating costs, and helps to increase energy efficiency and that helps improve environmental sustainability,” explained Olli Tevä, SVP, Sales and Marketing. “Additionally, our composite profiles resist deformation and corrosion from the harsh road environments typical in Finnish winters. Repairing fibreglass is straightforward and can be done in depot. This means that the overall lifetime operational and maintenance costs of the buses are decreased.”

“As a global manufacturer with manufacturing plants in six countries, our composites help reduce weight, improve performance, and decrease total life cycle costs, all while helping increase energy efficiencies and supporting environmental sustainability,” Exel Composites said.