VDL Bus & Coach has extended its Citea Electric product range with two new Low Entry variants, with a length of 12 and 12.9 metres. The Citea SLE Electric benefits from the new generation of battery packs and can be fitted with a variety of charging systems. The first VDL Citea SLE Electric will go into operation in 2019.
Expanded VDL Citea Electric range
The expansion of the VDL Citea Electric range with the addition of the Low Entry variants is a logistic step forward in increasing the sustainability of public transport. The new Low Entry Electric length variants, just like their diesel counterparts, are ideal for city and local transport applications, offer a variety of door configuration options and a flexible interior layout. Both SLE Electric versions are the perfect complement to the Citea LLE-99 Electric, at present mainly deployed on regional lines in the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
The Citea SLE Electric is equipped as standard with the new 216 kWh battery pack, and as an option can be fitted with the new 288 kWh battery pack. This provides the VDL Citea SLE Electric with an action radius of between 100 and 200 kilometres, without requiring top-up charging. Both the 12 and the 12.9 metre-length variants come as standard with a CCS plug. As an option, the Citea SLE Electric can be equipped with a roof-mounted or inverted pantograph, with a capacity of up to 450 kW.
These new variants provide VDL Bus & Coach with an even more extensive range of configurations to further support the transition to sustainable public transport. Thanks to the high- quality batteries and smart charging solutions, it is possible to achieve an operating distance of up to 500 kilometres per day. The expansion of the VDL Citea Electric range with the Citea SLE Electric offers operators and even higher degree of flexibility and more options for achieving a perfect match with their deployment requirements and operating preferences.
The core activities of VDL Bus & Coach consist of the development, manufacturing, sales and after-sales of a wide range of buses, coaches and chassis modules, the conversion or extension of mini & midi buses and the purchase and sales of second-hand buses. Manufacturing takes place in the Netherlands and Belgium. VDL Bus & Coach places high value on quality, safety, durability, the environment, low fuel consumption, comfort and low maintenance costs. Sales of VDL Bus & Coach products take place through a worldwide network consisting of corporate-owned sales offices, importers and agents in more than 30 countries. This makes it possible to offer custom- made transport solutions. For aftersales and maintenance, the client can count on rapid, hassle- free assistance from VDL Bus & Coach employees in any of the many service locations. An extensive distribution network ensures that spare parts and accessories are delivered to the
requested destination as quickly as possible. VDL Bus & Coach is one of the largest bus producers in Europe.
VDL Bus & Coach is part of VDL Groep. VDL Groep, with its head office in Eindhoven (The Netherlands), is an international industrial company focused on the development, production and sales of semi-finished products, buses & coaches and other finished products and the assembly of cars. Since the founding in 1953 this family-owned company has grown to include 99 operating companies, spread over 20 countries with more than 17,000 employees and an annual turnover of 5.049 billion euros in 2017. The strength of VDL Groep lies in the mutual cooperation between the companies.
