From a house in La Reina to the first electric bus factory in Latam: the story of Reborn Electric Motors
With 7 years of experience, the Chilean technology company operated its first converted bus in 2018, and today, it already has a fleet of 90 electric buses.
Since its foundation, in December 2016, Reborn Electric Motors forged its path as a startup, through milestones and launches, seeking to contribute to the acceleration of Chile towards sustainable mobility. It all started with the idea of Ricardo Repenning and Felipe Cevallos, two engineers from the Pontificia Universidad Católica whom, motivated to apply their knowledge to environmental solutions, saw the opportunity to rescue public transport machines that were soon to become obsolete, and give them a second life, perfecting its operation looking for decarbonization.
This is how in March 2017, both founders, with a talented team, settled for the first time in a house in La Reina. Using the dining room of the house as a laboratory and with developing technology; they managed to bring the first engine to life and began to transform their professionals to electromobility experts.
Subsequently, in May 2018, they put their first converted bus into operation, which was also tested by the Ministerio de Transportes, delivering positive results in demanding tests. By July 2019, the Reborn team made its first visits to the city of Rancagua, where the alliance with Link Service allowed them to set up shop to carry out the transformation from diesel to electric buses, in Link's workshops. The personnel transportation company, which operates in Codelco's El Teniente Division, sought to explore and expand its technologies to electrify mine transportation. The trust placed in Reborn's work was essential to position his production line locally, nationally and even internationally.
First remanufacturing
Between August 2019 and March 2020, Reborn carried out the first remanufacturing of a Link Service bus, from diesel to electric, after an agreement with Codelco. After this, the bus started began operating at the División El Teniente mine, in April of that year. Then, between February and October 2020, the remanufacturing of the first series of six additional units was carried out, which also began its operation in El Teniente in November of that year. After these first milestones that paved the way for the startup, Reborn began preparing its 3,000 m2 factory in October 2020. After 2 years remanufacturing diesel models to electric, the company completed its first manufacturing of an electric bus from scratch in March 2022.
Factory opens in Rancagua
One of the most important events in the history of REM occurred on July 7, 2022, when the brand officially inaugurated its factory located in Rancagua, the first in Latin America focused on the manufacture and remanufacturing of electric buses, an establishment that includes a 3,000-square-meter building, distributed among offices, meeting rooms, entertainment venues, and warehouses, where the company can develop around 200 electric buses each year.
“Settling in Rancagua allowed us to attract a lot of local talent, professionals who are fundamental in the development of our products that today position us competitively even in the international market. This region is an important focus of technological employment and innovation”, explained the co-founder and technology manager of Reborn Electric Motors, Ricardo Repenning.
To this announcement was added -on the same day- the launch of Queltehue, the official model of the 100% electric taxibus made from scratch in Chile. This vehicle has a range of 200 kilometers and capacity for 24 passengers.
Currently, Reborn Electric Motors has a team of 70 people, in which engineers, technicians, designers and journalists converge, among many other professionals. In addition, REM has a fleet of 90 electric buses.
"Looking to the future, Reborn aims at its commercial and international expansion, with the aim of continuing to consolidate its brand, but in other markets, work that goes hand in hand with the manufacture of new models and also greater advances in the field of electromobility", assured the co-founder and CEO of Reborn Electric Motors, Felipe Cevallos.