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With no less than 193 new generation VDL Citea’s, EBS will commence the newly formed Zaanstreek-Waterland concession in December 2023. The vehicles, fully based on an electric drivetrain, will be delivered from September. For VDL Bus & Coach, this is the largest order of electric vehicles to date.
VDL Bus & Coach supplies 60 new generation VDL Citea’s of the LE-122 model and 133 VDL Citea’s LE-135. The VDL Citea’s LE-135 are delivered in both R-Net and M-Net configurations. The vehicles are equipped with battery packs with capacities of 490 kWh (LE-122) and 552 kWh (LE-135), respectively.
"We are incredibly proud to be operating public transport in Zaanstreek-Waterland for the next 15 years," says CEO Wilko Mol of EBS. "The choice for electric buses is obvious to us. Our fleet of electric buses will grow to more than 500 units with this order. We have a lot of confidence in the collaboration with VDL for this Zaanstreek-Waterland concession."
According to client Vervoerregio Amsterdam, EBS is entering an ambitious and flexible concession. EBS will start with a high level of transport supply and will quickly adapt to changing circumstances such as increasing passenger numbers. EBS also places a strong emphasis on technological innovation, such as paying with methods other than the OV-chipkaart and planning door-to-door trips. Additionally, EBS, even more than in the current concession, focuses on inclusivity, ensuring that different target groups can make optimal use of public transport.
"We are extremely proud that VDL Bus & Coach is allowed to deliver the entire new fleet for this newly assembled concession," says Rolf-Jan Zweep, who from 1 January has taken over the role of CEO at VDL Bus & Coach from Paul van Vuuren. "EBS and VDL are good acquaintances. We have previously had the pleasure of serving EBS with 10 electric articulated vehicles for the Waterland concession and 23 electric so-called low-entry vehicles in Haaglanden. The new buses to be delivered will also be driving many kilometres annually. The new generation VDL Citea is particularly suitable for this because of its efficient energy consumption and optimal driving characteristics. The vehicles will be luxuriously and homely equipped, making the bus ride an enjoyable way to reach your destination."
VDL Bus & Coach has grown into one of the leading players in Europe in the field of e-mobility over the past decade. Since the introduction of the first VDL Citea SLF-120 Electric in Geneva, during the UITP Mobility & City Transport fair in 2013, VDL Bus & Coach has been strongly focused on electric mobility. Based on the VDL vision, a new bus concept has been developed, entirely based on an electric drive train, ready for the future and where zero emissions are selbstverständlich. Batteries in the floor, composite side walls as a single piece, smart energy management, an advanced climate system, and an ergonomic driver environment. With these five key innovations, VDL Bus & Coach introduced the product range of the new generation VDL Citea, which consists of four improved length variants and five types.
The new generation VDL Citea has been sold in various countries and is deployed in different cities and regions, including in the Netherlands (Eindhoven and Amsterdam), Finland (Kotka and Lahti), Belgium (entire Flanders), Germany (Oberhausen and Braunschweig), and France (Bordeaux).
EBS is an ambitious and rapidly growing Dutch public transport company where the traveler and quality come first. EBS currently provides public bus transport in four concessions:
From December 2023, EBS will be the carrier in the new Zaanstreek-Waterland concession.
The core activities of VDL Bus & Coach consist of the development, production, sales, aftersales, and service of a wide range of public transport buses, touring buses, and chassis modules, the conversion or expansion of mini- and midibuses, and the buying and selling of used buses. VDL Bus & Coach comprises several operating companies that are jointly active on the global market. Production takes place in Western Europe. High on the list of priorities are quality, safety, sustainability, the environment, low energy consumption, comfort, and low maintenance costs. In the transition to zero-emission transport, VDL Bus & Coach offers complete solutions and is not only a bus supplier but also a system supplier. The sale of VDL Bus & Coach products is carried out via a worldwide network of own branches, importers, and agents in more than 30 countries. For aftersales, service, and maintenance, customers can rely on quick and smooth handling by staff at one of the many service points. A highly extensive distribution network ensures that spare parts are delivered to the destination as quickly as possible. VDL Bus & Coach has now grown to become one of the largest bus manufacturers in Europe.
Communications Director and spokesperson for VDL Groep
E: m.timmers@vdl.nl
Tel: +31 6 14767066
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