Letenda Electrip 30-Foot Electric Bus Targets North America’s Midibus Gap

Letenda Electrip 30-foot electric bus has emerged as a focused response to a long-standing challenge in North America’s electric transit ecosystem. While full-size 40-foot electric buses and compact shuttles have gained traction, the 30-foot midibus category has remained largely overlooked, leaving transit agencies with limited zero-emission options for medium-capacity routes.
Quebec-based Letenda is positioning the Electrip as a purpose-built solution designed specifically for this underserved segment. Instead of adapting an existing platform, the company has developed the vehicle from the ground up, placing strong emphasis on cold-climate performance, operational efficiency, and a modular manufacturing approach suited to diverse transit needs.
Addressing the Missing Middle in Electric Transit
The lack of viable electric midibuses has slowed fleet electrification for routes that do not require full-size buses but exceed shuttle capacity. The Letenda Electrip 30-foot electric bus directly addresses this gap by combining compact dimensions with performance levels expected from larger urban buses.
Key design priorities include:

• Optimized energy efficiency for harsh winter conditions

• Modular components to simplify maintenance and upgrades

• Maneuverability suitable for dense urban and suburban routes

By concentrating on a single vehicle category, Letenda aims to avoid the operational dilution that has challenged other electric vehicle startups attempting to scale across multiple segments simultaneously.
Focused Strategy and Production Philosophy
Letenda’s strategy deliberately centers on one product rather than expanding into adjacent vehicle or battery segments. While modular production can reduce upfront investment, it often brings concerns around margin pressure and quality control. Letenda maintains that disciplined focus on the 30-foot platform enables tighter engineering control and clearer execution.
The company has publicly pointed to industry examples where rapid diversification weakened operational stability, reinforcing its belief that specialization is essential in the capital-intensive electric bus market.
Real-World Validation in Cold and Mixed Climates
The Electrip platform has progressed beyond concept validation through pilot deployments with major transit operators. These trials have tested the bus across varied operating profiles, including extended winter duty cycles.
Notable pilot results include:

• A 3,000 km operational test demonstrating strong maneuverability and dependable performance

• Winter and summer trials delivering energy consumption between 0.85 and 1.28 kWh per kilometer

• Selection by a major international airport as the launch customer with an initial multimillion-dollar order

These deployments provide early operational credibility, particularly in cold-weather efficiency, a critical barrier to electric bus adoption in Canada and northern U.S. regions.
Delivery Roadmap and Growth Outlook
Letenda has outlined a phased production roadmap aligned with its market focus. Initial deliveries are planned in limited volumes, followed by a gradual scale-up toward the end of the decade. To support this expansion, the company is actively seeking additional financing to strengthen manufacturing capacity and supplier readiness.
If execution aligns with projections, the Letenda Electrip 30-foot electric bus could become a reference platform for transit agencies seeking a practical, mid-capacity zero-emission solution without the cost and complexity of full-size buses.