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Higer has been around for years in Europe, for 2025 it is focusing on EV buses, triggers more R&D spending
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – CleanTechnica missed the opening days of Busworld 2025 due to logistical issues and red tape, so this is a post-launch report on Higer unveiling its electric V Series coaches for the European market at Busworld. The launch took place on October 4. The Chinese bus maker presented three models it developed over a three-year program.
The lineup includes the V12E Pro luxury coach, the V12E tourist coach, and the V13E intercity coach. The models were developed using the Integrated Product Development (IPD) process and European market research.
The V12E Pro is a 12.4-meter luxury coach designed for long-distance applications. The vehicle has a claimed range of 500 kilometers per charge, powered by a 399.91 kWh battery pack. The battery system includes nitrogen protection and a thermal management air-conditioning system.
The battery carries a 15-year or 1.5 million-kilometer warranty.
One exhibit model was configured for an Icelandic customer with 55 seats and wheelchair accessibility.
The coach operates at a noise level 2 decibels below European standards. Features include aisle seats with lateral slide adjustment, premium carpeting, ambient lighting, and pull-down curtains. A wheelchair lift is integrated beneath the mid-door step.
Higer states the V12E Pro is the first 12-meter electric coach with luggage compartment capacity exceeding 10 cubic meters.
Modular platform design
The V Series uses a modular platform scalable from 8 to 14 meters and compatible with electric, diesel, and hydrogen powertrains.
Leo Zheng, Higer Executive Vice President, said the design achieved a 58 percent reduction in component types. The structure features an openable front wall, SMC composite bumpers, and a central front panel for component access.
The coaches include domain control technology for intelligent maintenance and remote diagnosis functions.
European operations
The V13E intercity model will be delivered to customers in France after the exhibition.
Higer inaugurated its first European parts center and service station in Luxembourg on July 7, 2025. The facility was opened with Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg Hua Ning, Luxembourg’s Minister of Economy Lex Delles, and other officials in attendance.
Luxembourg received seven Higer Azure electric buses for intercity lines in late 2024. The parts center was established to reduce delivery times and increase service responsiveness for European customers.
The company plans to establish additional parts centers and a European training facility.
Gary Jiang, General Manager of Higer Overseas Sales, said global sales of the V Series have surpassed 5,000 units, with vehicles operating in more than 30 countries.
Higer has exhibited electric buses at each Busworld event since 2017, starting with a supercapacitor city bus, followed by the Azure series in 2019 and the FENCER F1 electric bus in 2023. The V Series represents the company’s fourth consecutive electric vehicle launch at the biennial trade show.
In 2024, Higer achieved a turnover of $962 million, with 64 percent of revenues from exports and more than 68,000 buses operating worldwide.
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