VDL delivers 31 electric buses in Finland
VDL Bus & Coach, has delivered 31 VDL electric buses to the Finnish cities Lahti and Kuopio. Thirteen Citeas LLE Electric will be delivered to Kuopion Liikenne Oy which provides public transport in Kuopio, a city in the interior of Finland, while in Lahti, approximately 100km north of the capital Helsinki, 18 Citeas LLE Electric will be put into operation with Koiviston Auto Oy.
“We are seeing a rapid transition to electric and sustainable public transport in Finland,” says VDL Bus & Coach Finland managing director Sami Ojamo. “It is a privilege to support our long- standing customer in this transition. This step means that we are able to strengthen our position as one of the leading suppliers in Finland even further.”
Kuopion Liikenne Oy and Koiviston Auto Oy are part of the family-owned Koiviston Auto Group. The 31 new buses see the total number of Citeas LLE delivered by VDL Bus & Coach to Koiviston Auto Group exceed 200.
“This has further deepened the strong cooperation we have had for years with VDL Bus & Coach,” says Antti Unkuri, CEO, Koiviston Auto Group. “We are both family businesses, relying on the same standards and values. Especially in these early stages of e-mobility in public transport the support of VDL is valuable to us.”
The Citeas in Lahti and Kuopio are equipped with a 35+4 seating arrangement, with space for one wheelchair or two prams. The buses are equipped with a high energy 282kWh battery pack, for charging with CCS2 socket in Kuopio and a roof-mounted pantograph in Lahti. The low temperatures in winter which can drop below 30 degrees or even colder places high demands on the vehicles.