Belgian company Van Hool has concluded a contract with the largest passenger transport company in Scandinavia for the delivery of 21 battery-electric 24-meter articulated trambuses of the Exqui.City model. Since 2014, fifteen Van Hool hybrid articulated trambuses have been operating in Malmö. Now, another 21 Belgian battery-electric trambuses for public transport in Sweden have been ordered by operator Nobina.
The new buses will also be used in the public transport system of the Swedish city of Malmö from mid-2022. Among suppliers of e-buses for Nobina so far there are BYD and Ebusco.
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100% zero emission solutions
“This order confirms the confidence that Nobina has in Van Hool. This is a new and important reference for Van Hool and it represents the undeniable proof of the company’s technological power. Van Hool is fully committed to its 100% zero emission bus and coach range. We are convinced that the various 100% zero emission solutions we offer – battery-electric, trolley and hydrogen – can, depending on the local application, provide an answer to the environmental and sustainability initiatives that public transport companies worldwide are undertaking,” says Filip Van Hool, CEO of Van Hool.
He adds: “As an independent Belgian manufacturer of buses and coaches, with customers all over the world, we have delivered no fewer than 1,200 electrically powered vehicles, so far. Van Hool’s strength lies in the fact that we have gained a lot of experience in various complex types of electrically powered vehicles, including 100% battery electric vehicles, and the charging infrastructure that goes with it.”
There are already more than 300 trambuses operating in 17 cities, primarily in Europe but also in Martinique (a French overseas department). Van Hool has also produced 58 trambuses for Trondheim in Norway.
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Next generation of buses
The electric tram buses are plug-in vehicles that will be charged at the Nobina depot in Malmö. Van Hool says that the Exqui.City model, which comes in 18 and 24-meter versions combine the flexibility of a bus with the efficiency of a tram.
“We feel pride in continuing this journey together with Skånetrafiken and Van Hool, introducing the next generation of 24 meter, fully electric zero emission tram buses – the first of its kind in the Nordics. Further developing the modern, safe and sustainable public traffic solution in Malmö”, said Jens Råsten, Fleet Manager at the Nobina Group.
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Distinct futuristic design
Van Hool has designed these tram-buses with what they call a “distinct futuristic design”, saying that a high level of comfort is afforded with air conditioning, low noise levels and soft lighting. The bus-tram design is supposed to offer optimal accessibility with a low boarding height, and easy entry and exit via the four double doors. Van Hool builds these vehicles on a multi-power platform with three zero-emission options of purely battery-electric, trolley (overhead lines) and hydrogen fuel cell.
21 Belgian Battery-Electric Trambuses for Public Transport in Sweden, based on a press release from Van Hool. Feature image (on top): van Hool.