VDL Groep is working on a new generation of electric VDL Citea city buses. The new models will be presented in 2021 and will emit no harmful substances.
With a view to weight distribution, stability and passenger capacity, the battery pack of the new electric models has been incorporated into the floor of the bus as standard. Also, the new Citea city buses include a new composite sidewall construction. This is 15% lighter than a conventional sidewall. Combined with the use of other lightweight parts, efficient components, good insulation, aerodynamic design and energy management, this reduces the vehicle's energy consumption by 30%.
Details not yet known
Details about the vehicle are not yet known. VDL Groep announces it will announce more details via social media in the near future. The new city buses will be shown for the first time at the international Busworld exhibition in Brussels next year.
VDL Groep will build the new Citeas in both the Netherlands and Belgium. In doing so, the organisation points to the pursuit of sustainable mobility solutions, which is an important pillar of its climate strategy in both countries. By focusing on local production, VDL Groep aims to maintain and strengthen the high-quality manufacturing industry in the field of knowledge, innovation and production in Western Europe. "The manufacturing industry has a future in Europe, Europe has a future because of the manufacturing industry," VDL Groep states.
'New concept with same name'
VDL Bus & Coach managing director Henk Coppens: "The name VDL Citea remains the same, the concept of the bus has been completely renewed and is based entirely on an electric powertrain. The new generation of Citeas, which will consist of four length variants, meets every possible market demand: each model offers a solution without compromise in terms of sustainability, technology, range, passenger comfort, capacity, ergonomics, flexibility, safety and Total Cost of Ownership."
President and CEO Willem van der Leegte of VDL Groep: "Despite the bus industry facing strong headwinds due to the corona crisis, we have continued with full commitment to develop this new public transport platform. We are very confident that with this step we are taking a big leap forward on our 'smart mobility' strategy: design, electrification, connectivity, autonomous and 'mobility as a service'."
Already active for some time with electric city buses
VDL Groep presented its first electric city bus in 2013: the VDL Citea SLF-120 Electric. Five examples of this model were delivered to Stadtwerke Münster in April 2015. One was delivered as part of the SEB project, aimed at fast-charging systems for electric buses in public transport. The other four models were delivered to the ZeEUS project (Zero Emission Urban Bus System), which is coordinated by UITP, the international public transport association. These vehicles feature a fast-charging system. A robotic arm is incorporated in the roof of the bus and automatically contacts the bus' charging system.
The SLF 120 Electric is also being used in the Netherlands. Among others, the electric city buses operate in Amsterdam, Den Bosch, Maastricht, on the Wadden Islands and in south-east Friesland. A hydrogen version of the SLF 120 is in operation Hoeksche Waard. The company's other electric city buses are also in operation in some other Dutch cities, including the LLE 99 Electric, the LLE 115 Electric, the SLFA 180 Electric and SLFA 181 Electric.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
