VDL Bus & Coach delivers its largest electric bus fleet to date
The largest electric bus fleet to be supplied by VDL Bus & Coach will be in service in Oslo from January 2022. With the delivery of 102 Citeas, VDL Bus & Coach is contributing to an important objective of the Norwegian city: by 2028, puablic transport must be completely emission-free. The 83 Citeas SLFA-180 Electric and 19 SLF-120 Electric will cover a total of approximately seven million kilometres a year.
“We are keen to use our knowledge and experience as a European frontrunner in electric public transport to contribute to Oslo’s ambitious climate targets,” says Frank Reichel, managing director, VDL Bus & Coach Norway. “Our 40 electric Citeas already operating in Oslo and the 8 Citeas Electric used as shuttle buses at Avinor Oslo Airport have already driven nearly two million electric kilometres.
“We are extremely proud that the largest e-bus fleet in Norway will consist almost entirely of VDL buses.
“This is further proof that our strategy of proactively approaching the market in Norway is a successful one.”
The operation in Oslo is provided by Norgesbuss. The 83 VDL-Citeas SLFA-180 Electric are equipped with a roof-mounted pantograph and the 19 Citeas SLF-120 Electric have a CCS charging point. The buses will mainly be charged at the depot, and will run south of Oslo, in the districts of Søndre Nordstrand, Nordstrand and parts of Nordre Follo. Some vehicles will be in use 24 hours a day.
The delivery of 102 electric Citeas to Norgesbuss, which operates for the public transportation authority Ruter, is the largest order for VDL Bus & Coach to date, topping its previous record delivery to Amstelland Meerlanden in 2018, with 100 electric articulated Citeas.