Golden Dragon and Ebusco Complete First Carbon Fiber Electric Bus

Updated on July 22, 2026 • 4 min read

Golden Dragon and Ebusco have completed the first carbon fiber articulated electric bus manufactured at Golden Dragon’s Longhai plant in China, marking a new step in the adoption of advanced composite materials for sustainable public transportation.

The milestone vehicle is an 18-metre articulated battery-electric bus developed for the European market under the companies’ renewed industrial cooperation.

The completed vehicle combines Ebusco’s lightweight vehicle design technology with Golden Dragon’s large-scale manufacturing capabilities, creating a production model focused on expanding electric bus supply for European operators.

Carbon Fiber Supports Electric Bus Lightweighting

One of the key features of the new electric bus is its carbon fiber composite body structure.

According to Ebusco, the use of carbon fiber contributes to approximately 30% vehicle weight reduction compared with conventional bus structures.

Reducing vehicle weight is particularly important for battery-electric buses because every kilogram saved can influence:

• Energy consumption
• Driving range
• Battery requirements
• Passenger efficiency
• Overall operating costs

For urban transportation operators, lightweight composite structures can help improve vehicle efficiency while supporting longer operating distances between charging cycles.

Aerospace Composite Technology Moves Into Public Transportation

Professor’s Analysis

Carbon fiber composites have traditionally been associated with aerospace, motorsports and high-performance engineering because of their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio.

The transition of carbon fiber into commercial buses represents a broader trend: advanced materials are increasingly moving from specialized industries into high-volume transportation applications.

Electric vehicles create a particularly strong demand for lightweight materials. Unlike conventional vehicles, where additional weight can often be offset by fuel energy density, battery-electric platforms must carefully manage every kilogram because battery capacity directly affects vehicle range and efficiency.

Composite structures provide manufacturers with opportunities to reduce weight while maintaining structural performance and corrosion resistance.

However, large-scale adoption requires more than material advantages. Manufacturers must also develop reliable production processes, cost-effective manufacturing methods and efficient repair systems suitable for commercial fleets.

Strategic Partnership Targets European Market

During the production ceremony, Golden Dragon and Ebusco also signed a strategic cooperation agreement to further expand their collaboration.

Under the partnership:

Ebusco contributes:

• Vehicle design expertise
• Product development capabilities
• European market experience

Golden Dragon contributes:

• Manufacturing capacity
• Industrial production systems
• Quality management capabilities

The companies said future cooperation will extend beyond vehicle manufacturing to include supply chain integration and aftersales support.

Industry partners including Gotion High-tech and Zhongfu Membranes & Water Technology are also involved in the wider programme.

Composite Materials Shape Future Electric Mobility

The completion of the first carbon fiber electric bus demonstrates how composite materials are becoming increasingly important in transportation electrification.

As cities worldwide continue investing in zero-emission public transportation, manufacturers are exploring lightweight structures to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs and maximize battery performance.

The collaboration between Golden Dragon and Ebusco highlights a growing industry direction: combining advanced composite materials with large-scale manufacturing capabilities to accelerate the next generation of sustainable mobility solutions.

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