Even Buses Are Getting Plug-In Hybrid Powertrains Now

Sweden’s Scania joins a very short list of bus makers that offer PHEV options.

Scania plug-in hybrid bus and coach chassis

Photo by: Scania

Iulian Dnistran

By: Iulian Dnistran

Sep 19, 2025 at 4:07am ET

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Scania has a new plug-in hybrid bus platform.
It combines a new 13-liter engine with two electric motors and a high-voltage battery pack that can be recharged from a DC fast charger.
The Swedish company says this is the ideal solution for long-distance coaches that have to enter zero-emission zones in cities.

As plug-in hybrid powertrains become more popular, even bus manufacturers are getting in on the action. Sweden’s Scania, which is a Volkswagen Group subsidiary, just unveiled its first plug-in hybrid bus in an effort to cut harmful emissions, especially inside crowded cities, where zero-emission zones might be enforced.

The new platform is designed for both short-distance buses and long-distance coaches, but the company says the powertrain makes the most sense for the latter. It combines a new 13-liter diesel engine with a high-voltage battery and dual electric motors integrated into the automatic gearbox.

Scania PHEV powertrain for buses and coaches

Photo by: Scania

The combustion engine is 8% more efficient than its predecessor, as well as being compatible with the upcoming Euro 7 emissions standards. The 89-kilowatt-hour battery, which was designed and is built in-house, can enable an all-electric range of up to 50 miles (80 kilometers) on a full charge.

Speaking of charging, Scania’s PHEV bus can accept 130 kilowatts of power at 200 amps using a CCS2 plug located on the right side of the body. Charging can also be done using the combustion engine as a generator.

Gallery: Scania plug-in hybrid (PHEV) bus (2025)

Scania 13-liter diesel engine for buses and coaches

Scania 13-liter diesel engine for buses and coaches Scania plug-in hybrid bus and coach chassis Scania's PHEV buses have dual electric motors integrated into the six-speed transmission Scania PHEV powertrain for buses and coaches

Source: Scania

The dual electric motors make a combined 389 horsepower (290 kilowatts), while the diesel engine is available in two power configurations, either 420 hp or 460 hp. With this setup, the Swedish-built PHEV bus can run on diesel power on long stretches of road, and when it needs to enter a city, the combustion engine can be shut off, letting the electric motor do all the heavy lifting without any harmful emissions.

What’s more, the driver can use the company’s geofencing feature to automate the switch to all-electric power.

Scania’s PHEV system is available for buses and coaches in two body sizes. Whatever the body type or wheel count, the powertrain is exclusively two-wheel drive, with four-wheeled and six-wheeled configurations on offer. The latter also comes with rear-wheel steering.

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The Volkswagen Group-owned bus maker is not the first to offer a PHEV model, but it is one of the few. Poland’s Solaris has an urban plug-in hybrid bus, and China’s King Long has offered a city bus with a similar setup to Scania’s new model.

As companies search for ways to lower their carbon footprint, plug-in hybrid and extended-range powertrains are gaining popularity. All-electric buses and trucks exist, but going for the half-electric, half-combustion approach is sometimes faster and cheaper, at least in the short term.

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