Born-again electrified double-deckers from Berlin and Turkey

摘要

Double-deck sightseeing buses are a common sight in German and other European cities and two makers showcased their visions of an electrified future for open-toppers at the IAA. IAA newcomer Tassima from Germany's Brandenburg state aims to give elderly MAN SD200 and SD202 double-deckers from the 1970s and 1980s a new lease of life by electrifying the drivetrain. In Germany these buses fitted with Euro2 or Euro3 diesel engines operate with special permission. Tassima was set up this year by Rolan Prejawa, who was at open-top operator Gullivers Reisen from 1983 to 2006 and was a Green Party transport spokesman in Berlin for many years, and Dirk Poguntke from Berlin City Tour, who is the engineering brains behind the project. A prototype, which cost €700,000 (£623,000) to develop, has been on trial in Berlin for several years.