Delivery of first VDL Citea SLFA-180 Electric to Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG
On Monday 26 October 2015 the first fully electric articulated bus, the Citea SLFA-180 Electric, was delivered to Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG (KVB). North Rhine-Westphalia State Minister for Transport Mr Michael Groschek, KVB Chairman Mr Jürgen Fenske, KVB Board Member for Technology Mr Jörn Schwarze and Managing Director VDL Bus & Coach Rémi Henkemans officially presented the new city buses that will be put in service by KVB. “We are very much looking forward to seeing the buses in service in Cologne and I’m already looking forward to my next visit to Cologne”, said Rémi Henkemans, Managing Director VDL Bus & Coach.
Expanded Citea Electric range
The Citea SLFA Electric represents an important step in the expansion of VDL Bus & Coach’s electric bus range. Besides having several electric drives, battery packs and charging systems to choose from, so the ideal, optimal combination for any application can be put together, a length variant and a new exterior design have now been added, without affecting accessibility, interior layout or comfort. The VDL Citea SLFA Electric that was presented in Cologne is the first in a series of eight buses ordered by the Cologne passenger transport company KVB (Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe). This electric articulated bus is fitted with an opportunity charge system.
VDL Citea SLFA Electric
The VDL Citea SLFA Electric is an electric articulated bus that runs entirely on electricity without any aids. This means that unlike hybrid buses it requires no diesel engine and unlike trolleys it needs no pantograph to continuously supply it with power. The VDL Citea SLFA Electric admittedly has a pantograph, but it is only used for a brief charge at the end of each run. When the bus makes contact with the charging station at the final stop, the batteries are charged quickly but intensely as required.
The new, innovative VDL Citea SLFA Electric combines the best features of the Citea Electric and the articulated Citea SLFA. The modular system from which the Citea range is built played a major role in the development of this electric variant. This allowed easy integration of the electric components without compromising the essential Citea qualities, such as lightweight construction, optimum accessibility and comfort. An aspect that is beneficial to both comfort and the environment is the fact that the VDL Citea Electric is very quiet, both inside and outside the bus.
The VDL Citea articulated, with its completely flat floor, is ideal for the transport of large numbers of passengers. The low floor construction makes it exceptionally easy to enter the bus and offers optimal access, for travellers with a baby buggy or wheelchair for example. This applies both to the front section of the bus and the section ‘behind the bellows’. During the design of the Citea SLFA considerable attention was given to the flow of passengers from the entry door and to the exit
doors. Harmoniously matched colours give the bus a very spacious feeling. The cantilever seat design (free-hanging seats) ensures plenty of leg room and therefore optimal sitting comfort. Since the entire floor is free of obstacles, the buses are easy to clean.
