Van Hool, the Belgian producer of buses, coaches and industrial autos, offered its first version of a totally new vary of 100% zero emission buses on the primary day of Euro Mobility Expo 2022, a global commerce present for public transport.
The Van Hool A12 Battery Electrical is the primary car in a totally new vary of buses in 4 totally different lengths (12m, 13m, 18m and 24m) geared up with completely zero emission powertrains: battery-electric, gas cell (hydrogen) and trolley.
With this new A spread, the corporate is constructing on the information and expertise it has gained within the space of eco-friendly buses for public city and regional transport. Van Hool is able to present a response to the ever-growing demand from public transport firms which might be specializing in ‘greening’ their fleets. Even earlier than the official announcement of the brand new A spread Van Hool had 13 orders on its books, for a complete of 162 buses.
he intention in designing the brand new A spread was to provide you with an eco-friendly (100 per cent zero emissions), comfy, protected, timeless and sustainable bus vary that can be utilized in city and regional transport in Europe. Our intention was to current an built-in new vary to satisfy the excessive expectations of the transport firms, the drivers and the passengers.
The brand new inside and exterior design and the selection of three totally different powertrains had been linked, on the one hand, to the worldwide experiences that now we have constructed up over the previous few a long time and, on the opposite, to the challenges that public transport firms will face over the approaching years. Our prospects are specializing in greening their fleets and are pursuing zero emissions. They’re tying that to consolation and security for the customers of public transport, a nice working atmosphere for the motive force and a TCO (complete price of possession) to be able to carry out their process profitably.
Greater than ever, we’re able to play a major position on the European public transport market. We now have a totally new vary of city buses, in 4 totally different lengths (12m, 13m, 18m and 24m), that are geared up with completely zero emissions powertrains: battery-electric, gas cell (hydrogen) and trolley.
—Filip Van Hool, CEO of Van Hool NV
Within the design and growth of the brand new A spread, explicit consideration was paid to the burden, sustainability and modularity of the buses.
Structural weight financial savings had been achieved via using excessive power chrome steel, low-weight composite supplies and sustainable bonding methods. For this, pc simulation and optimization methods had been used, mixed with greater than 75 years’ ability and expertise.
A modular fastening system has been fitted on the self-supporting sandwich roof of the bus for the mixing of elements comparable to batteries, and air-con and management techniques. Upgrading/updating, any subsequent modifications and substitute with different elements will likely be simpler consequently, due to this fact guaranteeing a protracted lifetime of the car. This fashion, Van Hool is making an vital contribution to the round economic system.
The design of the brand new A spread is characterised by its aerodynamic form on the entrance. The big windshield supplies an optimum view for each driver and passengers. The buses are fitted with the most recent era LED headlights with daytime driving lights.
The big rear window permits loads of pure mild. Additionally on the rear, the most recent era LED lights have been used. The big entry hatch within the rear panel supplies user-friendly entry to the technical part of the bus. Giant aspect home windows improve the quantity of pure mild coming into the bus, contributing to a vibrant inside. The buses have broad passenger doorways, making boarding and alighting simpler for passengers. For the motive force, a closed cab with loads of cupboard space is offered as customary.
The ergonomic cab, which meets the requirements of the Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen (VDV), provides the motive force a view of all of the car’s options at a look, bettering normal security. The inside local weather is regulated by a system whereby conditioned air comes from a central roof air duct, based mostly on warmth pump know-how (with water because the condenser) and traction warmth restoration, leading to vitality financial savings in comparison with a basic warmth pump.
To maximise the autos’ vary, it was essential to reduce their empty weight. Through the use of finite component calculation methods on the one hand, and excessive power (duplex) kinds of chrome steel on the opposite, it was doable to optimize the metal construction of each the chassis and the aspect body. The combination of a state-of-the-art light-weight sandwich roof completes the burden optimization.
Van Hool is an impartial Belgian bus, coach and industrial car producer, based mostly in Koningshooikt. The corporate was based in 1947 and celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2022. The overwhelming majority of models produced are destined for Europe and the US. Van Hool has round 3,500 employees worldwide, the vast majority of whom work on the manufacturing services in Koningshooikt (Belgium) and Skopje (North Macedonia).
