Scania Irizar i6S Efficient PHEV coach wins Sustainable Bus Award 2027
Scania's Irizar i6S Efficient plug-in hybrid coach has won the Sustainable Bus Award 2027 in the Coach category, cutting fuel consumption by up to 47 percent and CO2 emissions by up to 94 percent.
- up to 47 percent
- up to 94 percent
- up to 70 km
- 89 kWh
What Happened
The Scania Irizar i6S Efficient PHEV has won the Sustainable Bus Award 2027 in the Coach category. The jury recognised the originality and coherence of introducing plug-in hybrid technology to tourist transport and long-distance coach operations, and particularly highlighted the ability to use electric propulsion in urban areas, terminals and zero-emission zones while keeping all the range required for longer assignments. It also recognised the potential to reduce fuel consumption and emissions even with the infrastructure and operational constraints that still limit fully electric coaches. The Sustainable Bus Award is a European award that takes a broad view of sustainability, including vehicle performance, safety, comfort, environmental impact and the manufacturer's overall approach to sustainable transport. The award follows the coach's Label of Excellence for Driveline Technology in the 2025 Busworld Vehicle Awards.
47percent
Versus a conventional powertrain in favourable operating conditions, including en-route charging and an operation that makes effective use of the electric powertrain.
- up to 70 km of electric driving
- up to 80 km of electric driving
- Electric
- Hybrid
- Charge Sustain
- Forced Charging
The system combines a 338 kW Scania Super 13-litre engine with two 145 kW electric machines and an 89 kWh lithium-ion battery, contributing to excellent driveability. The battery can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in approximately 44 minutes, and regenerative braking, electrified auxiliaries and intelligent energy management further contribute to reducing energy demand. Scania's digital ecosystem supports the service with tools for monitoring charging and range, analysing driving style, predictive maintenance, remote diagnostics and fleet performance management. The combustion engine is compatible with renewable fuels, and when plug-in hybrid operation is combined with HVO, CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 94 percent. Improvements in aerodynamics and the weight reduction coming with the Efficiency body further lower energy demand, fuel consumption and associated emissions.
“Long-distance coach operations need solutions that work across very different parts of the journey. With this plug-in hybrid platform, operators can use electric driving where it is required or creates customer value, while retaining and extending the range their operation demands and drastically reducing costs and emissions.”
“These are two complementary possibilities. The plug-in hybrid powertrain reduces fuel consumption by using electricity efficiently throughout the operation. Renewable fuel can then further reduce the CO2 emissions associated with the fuel that is still needed.”
Why this matters
Long-distance coach operators get a plug-in hybrid option that can run electric in cities and zero-emission zones while keeping the range longer routes need. With up to 47 percent less fuel use and up to 94 percent lower CO2 emissions when renewable HVO fuel is used, the platform could cut running costs and emissions even where charging infrastructure still limits fully electric coaches.
Terms in This Story
- Plug-in hybrid
- A vehicle that combines a combustion engine with a battery and electric motor that can be recharged from an external power source.
- HVO
- Hydrotreated vegetable oil, a renewable diesel-type fuel that can replace conventional diesel in compatible engines.
- Zero-emission zone
- A defined urban area where vehicles that produce tailpipe emissions are restricted or banned.
- Regenerative braking
- A system that recovers energy during braking or deceleration and feeds it back to the battery.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.